In general, it’s recommended for beginner poker players to start playing tight and aggressive by only playing premium hands in the early position and adding more hands as they gain experience and understand the dynamics of the table.
Premium hands include pairs of face cards (Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks), Ace-King and Ace-Queen combinations, and suited connectors (two cards in sequence and of the same suit).
However, the specific hands you play can also depend on various factors such as:
- the specific game format (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, etc.)
- the number of players at the table
- your position at the table, and
- the playing styles of your opponents
What are some hands that you should never play?
There are certain hands that are considered to be weaker and should typically be avoided, especially by beginner players.
Some examples of such hands include:
- Low pairs (2s to 10s)
- Unconnected and unsuited cards (e.g. 7 of spades and 9 of clubs)
- High card hands with no potential for a straight or flush (e.g. Queen of hearts and 10 of spades)
- Hands that can be easily dominated by other hands (e.g. Ace-Jack against Ace-Queen)
It’s important to keep in mind that while there are some hands that are generally considered weaker, the specific hands you play can also depend on various factors such as the specific game format, the number of players at the table, your position at the table, and the playing styles of your opponents.
Additionally, experienced players may play hands that are typically considered weak in certain situations as part of a larger strategy to deceive their opponents.
5 Bad Poker Hands Amateurs Love (But All Pros Avoid!)
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