8 min read
Which starting hands to play
A simple guide to which starting hands to play from each seat. No complicated theory — just clear first decisions.
TL;DR
Play tighter from early position and loosen up as you move later — big pairs and strong broadways everywhere, plus more speculative hands once you're acting closer to last. Position decides how wide you can profitably play, not a fixed hand list.
Deciding which starting hands to play — before you see any community cards — is the single biggest lever a beginner has. This guide gives you a simple, position-based starting point, not a memorization exercise.
The idea
The earlier you act, the fewer hands you should play, because more players are still left to act behind you and could have something strong. The later you act, the more hands become profitable, because you've already seen what everyone else did.
These are starting points, not strict rules. As you play more hands, Hero Poker's session analysis will show you where your own choices are costing you the most — that's the faster way to actually improve.
A simple range by position
Pairs nines and up, ace-king, ace-queen
Play tight here — several players are still left to act behind you.
Add pairs sevens and up, ace-jack, king-queen, suited connectors like jack-ten
A bit more room — fewer players left to act.
Add any pair, any two broadway cards (ten or higher), most suited aces
This is where a wider range becomes profitable, since you'll act last after the flop.
Suited vs. offsuit
Two cards of the same suit (suited) are worth a little more than the same two ranks of different suits (offsuit), because they can also make a flush. It's a small edge, not a reason to play a bad hand — but it's often the deciding factor between two borderline hands.
What to do with this
Before the flop, glance at your position relative to the button, then check whether your hand fits the range for that spot. Over time you won't need to check — it becomes automatic.