Hand Rankings
Every poker variant uses the same universal hand rankings. The following table lists all ten hand types from highest to lowest, with the number of possible combinations from a standard 52-card deck and the probability of being dealt each in a 5-card hand:
| Rank | Hand | Description | Example | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A-K-Q-J-10, same suit | A-K-Q-J-10 of Spades | 4 | 0.000154% |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive, same suit | 5-6-7-8-9 of Hearts | 36 | 0.00139% |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards same rank | Q-Q-Q-Q-7 | 624 | 0.0240% |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind + pair | K-K-K-9-9 | 3,744 | 0.1441% |
| 5 | Flush | Five same suit, not consecutive | 2-5-8-J-A of Diamonds | 5,108 | 0.1965% |
| 6 | Straight | Five consecutive, mixed suits | 4-5-6-7-8 | 10,200 | 0.3925% |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards same rank | 8-8-8-K-3 | 54,912 | 2.1128% |
| 8 | Two Pair | Two different pairs | J-J-4-4-A | 123,552 | 4.7539% |
| 9 | One Pair | Two cards same rank | 10-10-A-8-5 | 1,098,240 | 42.2569% |
| 10 | High Card | No combination | A-J-8-5-2 | 1,302,540 | 50.1177% |
In Texas Hold'em, you make the best 5-card hand from your 2 hole cards and 5 community cards (7 total). This significantly changes the probability of hitting each hand compared to 5-card draw poker.
Texas Hold'em Rules
Setup
- 2-10 players per table (9 is standard for tournaments).
- Two players post forced bets: the Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB).
- Each player receives 2 private cards (hole cards).
- Five community cards are dealt face-up over three stages.
Betting Rounds
| Round | Community Cards | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | None | Players act based solely on hole cards. Action starts left of BB. |
| Flop | 3 cards dealt | Three community cards revealed. Major hand assessment point. |
| Turn | 4th card dealt | One more community card. Bets typically double. |
| River | 5th card dealt | Final community card. Last betting round before showdown. |
In each round, players can Check (pass, if no bet), Bet (place chips), Call (match the current bet), Raise (increase the bet), or Fold (surrender the hand).
Position Strategy
Position is the single most important strategic concept in Hold'em. Acting later gives you more information about opponents' intentions.
| Position | Seats | Advantage | Playable Hand Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Position (EP) | UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2 | Least info; act first post-flop | Tight: top 10-15% of hands |
| Middle Position (MP) | MP1, MP2, Hijack | Some info from EP actions | Moderate: top 15-25% of hands |
| Late Position (LP) | Cutoff, Button | Maximum info; act last post-flop | Wide: top 25-40% of hands |
| Blinds | Small Blind, Big Blind | Last pre-flop; first post-flop | Defend with medium range |
The Button (Dealer position) is the most profitable seat at any poker table. Long-term studies show Button players win more on average than any other position.
Starting Hands Chart
Starting hand selection is the foundation of pre-flop strategy. Here is a simplified tier system:
| Tier | Hands | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Premium (Tier 1) | AA, KK, QQ, AKs | Raise/re-raise from any position |
| Strong (Tier 2) | JJ, 1010, AQs, AKo, AJs | Raise from any position; call re-raises carefully |
| Playable (Tier 3) | 99-77, AQo, KQs, ATs, KJs | Raise from MP/LP; call in EP vs single raise |
| Speculative (Tier 4) | 66-22, suited connectors (87s, 76s), suited aces (A5s-A2s) | Play from LP only; good implied odds needed |
| Marginal (Tier 5) | K10o, Q10o, J10o, suited one-gappers | Only in LP with no raise; fold to aggression |
Key notation: "s" = suited (same suit), "o" = offsuit (different suits). Suited hands are approximately 2-3% more valuable than their offsuit equivalents due to flush potential.
Pot Odds Basics
Pot odds compare the current size of the pot to the cost of a call. This helps determine if calling is mathematically profitable.
How to Calculate
- Note the total pot (including any bets this round).
- Note the amount you must call.
- Calculate pot odds: Pot Size / Call Amount.
- Estimate your equity (probability of winning).
- If your equity exceeds 1 / (pot odds + 1), calling is profitable.
Example: Pot is $100, opponent bets $50, making the total pot $150. You need to call $50. Pot odds are 150:50 = 3:1. You need at least 1/4 = 25% equity to call profitably. If you have a flush draw (approximately 35% equity on the flop with two cards to come), calling is clearly profitable.
Common Drawing Odds
| Draw Type | Outs | Turn Probability | River Probability | Turn + River Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flush draw | 9 | 19.1% | 19.6% | 35.0% |
| Open-ended straight draw | 8 | 17.0% | 17.4% | 31.5% |
| Gutshot straight draw | 4 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 16.5% |
| Two overcards | 6 | 12.8% | 13.0% | 24.1% |
| Set (pocket pair to trips) | 2 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 8.4% |
Common Mistakes
- Playing too many hands: Beginners often play 40-60% of dealt hands. Winning players typically play 15-25%.
- Ignoring position: Playing J-9 offsuit from UTG (early position) is a losing strategy long-term.
- Calling too much: Known as "calling station" play. Betting and raising show strength; passive calling rarely wins.
- Not adjusting bet sizes: Bet sizing should relate to the pot. A half-pot to full-pot bet is standard. Min-bets rarely accomplish anything.
- Chasing draws without odds: Calling bets without the correct pot odds to justify drawing is a long-term money loser.
- Playing on tilt: Emotional play after a bad beat is the number one bankroll killer. Take a break after a significant loss.
- Overvaluing top pair: Top pair is a good hand, but it's still just one pair. Be cautious when facing heavy aggression.
Sources & References
Sklansky, David (2005), "The Theory of Poker." Harrington, Dan (2004), "Harrington on Hold'em." PokerStove equity calculation software for probability data. Hand combination counts derived from C(52,5) = 2,598,960 total possible 5-card hands. World Series of Poker official rules for Texas Hold'em tournament play.