Hold’em Like a Pro: The 8 Best Starting Hands in Texas Hold’em

In poker, the landscape of a hand can shift dramatically with each new card, and what starts strong may not always finish that way. While no hand guarantees a win, certain starting hands in Texas Hold’em are statistically better than others, giving you a head start. These premium hands aren’t invincible, but if you’re lucky enough to be dealt one, you're in for a better shot at stacking chips. Here’s a breakdown of the top eight starting hands in Texas Hold'em, ranked by their winning potential.

1. Ace, Ace—“Pocket Aces”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 85 %

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Pocket aces, bullets, pocket rockets, whatever name they go by, two aces pre-flop have higher odds of winning than every other hand in the game. They dominate just about every other hand pre-flop and have the potential to improve into powerful hands like sets, two pair, or even quads. Even without a monster combination, aces often stand strong—any higher combination you make with aces will win more often than it won’t.

Better hands like a full house and four of a kind are possible but are less likely to hit. Fortunately, unlike lower ranked pairs, aces still win pots even if they fail to create higher-ranked combinations. Aces are one of the few hands that you should never fold pre-flop, regardless of the circumstances. Statistically speaking, and we don’t like to do that too often, you should get dealt pocket aces once every 221 hands, and unless something has gone horribly wrong, you should win more than you lose.

2. King, King—“Pocket Kings”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 83%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

The second-best hand pre-flop—second only to pocket aces—pocket kings, or “cowboys” as they’re also referred to, have all the same benefits as pocket aces, except they didn’t call Elvis “The Ace” did they? No, they didn’t. Pocket Kings can dominate nearly every other hand pre-flop and regularly create higher combinations like three of a kind or two pair. Any higher ranked combination you make with kings has a good chance of winning the pot. Even if you don't hit higher combinations, a pair of kings can still hold up reasonably well. Kings are another hand you shouldn't fold pre-flop, although, keep in mind aces seem to come out alarmingly often against kings. The only downside of kings is they will frequently lose to aces.

3. Queen, Queen—“Pocket Queens”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 80%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Pocket queens are still top-tier, although they’ll be on shaky ground against kings or aces. The good news? You’re still in a great spot to hit strong combinations and dominate lower pairs or unpaired hands. Pocket queens can win you a lot of pots, so folding them pre-flop would be a big mistake.

4. Jack, Jack—"Pocket Jacks”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 78%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Pocket jacks, often dubbed "fishhooks," are a solid starting hand but require a bit more caution. They might be toward the lower end of the premium hand rankings, but pocket jacks are still far better than nearly every other hand pre-flop. They can form higher-ranked hands like two pairs, three of a kind, or a full house.. On their own, against unpaired hands, jacks can still hold up, but they obviously fall short against pocket queens, kings, and aces. With the right mix of aggression and caution, pocket jacks can still win you plenty of hands.

5. 10, 10—“Pocket Tens”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 75%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Pocket tens are approaching the lower end of the premium hand rankings, but they are still far better than an unpaired hand pre-flop. They are best when combined with another ten on the flop, turn or river, but can still hold up as only a pair in a lot of circumstances. Two pair is the most likely outcome when playing pocket tens, but higher combinations are possible. Pocket tens generally work best in early or late positions combined with outright aggression and heavy betting.

6. 9, 9—“Pocket 9s”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 77%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Pocket nines are a solid hand, but they require smart positioning and aggressive betting to truly shine. They work best in either early or late positions, where you can control the action and filter out other players with aggressive betting. Hitting two pair or better is ideal because 9s will rarely hold up as only a pair. They have a high win percentage pre-flop, but with so many higher pairs in the rankings pocket 9s should rarely be taken to the river against multiple opponents. They are a good mid-range hand but should be played with caution.

7. 8, 8—“Pocket 8s”

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 69%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

If the betting is low, or you are in early or late position, eights can be a great way to steal the pot with some well-placed aggressive betting. Pocket 8s are very much in the mid-range of pairs, but they are still among the best hands pre-flop. They can make better combinations; however, they need to be approached with a bit more care than the higher ranks because pocket 8s will often not hold up as only a pair by the turn and river. Pocket eights are right in the middle of the pair range; they are nothing special but still worth playing under the right circumstances.

8. Ace, King

Odds of Winning Pre-Flop: 68%

Why it’s one of the best starting hands in poker

Often called "Big Slick," Ace-King is the strongest non-pair hand pre-flop and the best drawing hand in the game. When suited, it has a solid chance of making the highest flush and can also form the top-ranked straights in poker. Against mid-ranked pocket pairs, Ace-King remains a favorite due to its ability to make stronger hands like straights, flushes, two pairs, and full houses. Even unsuited, Ace-King still holds an advantage over lower pairs, though the odds of a flush decrease. While it's not unbeatable, Ace-King can lead to some of the most powerful hands in the game.

There you have it—the top 8 starting hands in Texas Hold’em. These hands will give you a solid foundation to dominate the table, but remember, poker is as much about strategy and timing as it is about the cards you're dealt. While these hands give you a great head start, the real challenge lies in how you play them. So, the next time you're dealt one of these powerhouse hands, seize the moment, trust your instincts, and play to win.