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Best Poker Hands


Below is a list of the best starting poker hands for Texas Hold-em, based on Sklansky’s starting hand rankings. A player’s starting hand in Texas Holdem consists of two hole cards, understanding the value of your starting poker hand relative to the best poker hands is vital. The probability of your hand winning decreases the higher the number of players that are involved in a hand. Making solid pre-flop hand selection will reduce the number of hands you play but also reduce the chances of playing too many hands with little chance of winning or improving during a hand.

Sklansky’s Starting Hand Rankings a grouped below from best to worst with recommendations on what hands to play in what positions you are in at the poker table relative to the dealer button. Also the level of aggression and tightness of players at the table must be considered, tighening up your starting hand requirements accordingly.

Skalansky Group 1 Hands … Playable in early, middle & late postition

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKsuited

Skalansky Group 2 Hands … Playable in early, middle & late postition

TT, AQs, AJs, KQs, AK

Skalansky Group 3 Hands … Playable early, middle & late position

99, JTs, QJs, KJs, ATs, AQ

Skalansky Group 4 Hands … Playable in early, middle & late position

T9s, KQ, 88, QTs, 98s, J9s, AJ, KTs

Skalansky Group 5 Hands … Playable in early*, middle & late position

77, 87s, Q9s, T8s, KJ, QJ, JT, 76s, 97s, Axs, 65s

Skalansky Group 6 Hands … Playable only in middle* & late position

66, AT, 55, 86s, KT, QT, 54s, K9s, J8s, 75s

Skalansky Group 7 Hands … Playable only in late* postion

44, J9, 64s, T9, 53s, 33, 98, 43s, 22, Kxs, T7s, Q8s

Skalansky Group 8 Hands … Generally risky weaker hands
87, A9, Q9, 76, 42s, 32s, 96s, 85s, J8, J7s, 65, 54, 74s, K9, T8

* Some hands may be playable in these positions if and only if the players are loose passive and you are able or confident you will be able to see a cheap flop.

ie. You are confident that players in late position or in the blinds are unlikely to raise behind you purely based on their stronger later position, or because players are unlikely to defend their blinds, or because your in late position in an unraised pot.

Generally the less experienced a player the tighter their starting hand selection should be eg. Beginers and novice players should only play Group 1-3 starting hands, play groups 4-6 very cautiously and not play any group 7-8 hands under any circumstances. More experienced players will be able to loosen their starting hand requirements but it’s strongly suggested that over playing group 7-8 hands are massive holes in most intermediates poker games and also playing group 5-6 hands will loose more than they win if played poorly.