Introduction

The starting hands listed here are taken originally from Matthew Hilger's book, Internet Texas Hold'em. They are suitable for all levels of play for the most part at full tables (9-10 players). They will earn you a tight reputation at your table as you will be playing between 10-15% of the hands you are dealt. As long as you play these aggressively and properly postflop you will more than likely maintain a good Tight-Aggressive table image as well as a steady income (over a long period of time, however).

Early Position Unraised Pot Raised Pot
AA KK QQ Raise Reraise
JJ Call Call
TT 99 Call Fold
88 77 Call 1 Fold
AKs AK Raise Reraise
AQs AQ AJs Raise Call
AJ ATs A9s Call Fold
A8s A7s Call 1 Fold
KQs Call Fold
KJs Call 1 Fold
QJs Call 1 Fold
Middle Position Unraised Pot Raised Pot
AA KK QQ Raise Reraise
JJ Raise First in, Call 1 Call
TT Raise First in, Call 1 Fold
99 Call Fold
88 77 Call 1 Fold
66 55 Call 2 Fold
44 33 22 Call 3 Fold
AKs AK Raise Reraise
AQs AQ AJs Raise Call
AJ ATs AT Raise First in, Call 1 Fold
A9s A8s A7s Call Fold
Axs Call 1 Fold
KQs KQ KJs Call Fold
KTs Call 1 Fold
QJs QTs Call 1 Fold
JTs Call 2 Fold
J9s Call 3 Fold
T9s Call 3 Fold
98s Call 3 Fold
Late Position Unraised Pot Raised Pot
AA KK QQ Raise Reraise (RR)
JJ TT Raise 1, Call 2 RR 1 Option, Call All
99 Raise First In, Call 1 RR or Fold against 1 player, Call 3
88 77 Raise First In, Call 1 Call 3
66 55 Call 2 Call 4
44 33 22 Call 3 Call 4
AKs AK Raise Reraise
AQs AQ AJs Raise Raise RR 1 option, Call All
AJ ATs Raise 1, Call 2 Fold
AT Axs Raise First In, Call 1 Fold
A9 Raise First In: otherwise Fold Fold
KQs Raise 1, Call 2 Call
KQ KJs KJ KTs Raise First In, Call 1 Fold
KT K9s Call 2 Fold
K8s K7s Call 3 Fold
Kxs Call 4 Fold
QJs Raise First In, Call 1 Call 4
QJ QTs Raise First In, Call 1 Fold
QT Q9s Call 2 Fold
Q8s Call 4 Fold
JTs Raise First In, Call 1 Call 4
JT Call 3 Fold
J9s Call 2 Fold
J8s Call 4 Fold
T9s Call 2 Call 5
T8s Call 3 Fold
98s Call 3 Call 5
87s Call 4 Fold
76s Call 4 Fold
BLINDS SB Unraised Pot SB Raised Pot BB Raised Pot*
AA KK QQ Raise Reraise (RR) Reraise (raise limpers)
JJ Raise 1, Call 2 RR 1, Call 2 Call (raise 1 limper)
TT 99 Raise 1, Call 2 RR 1, Call 2 Call
88 77 Call RR Lone Late, Call 3 Call 2, or 1 Middle or Late
66 55 Call Call 3 Call 2, or 1 Late
44 33 22 Call Call 3 Call 2
AKs Raise Reraise (RR) Reraise (raise limpers)
AK Raise Reraise or Call Reraise or Call (raise limpers)
AQs AQ Raise 1 or 2, Call 3 RR 1 or 2, Call 3 Call (raise 1 or 2 limpers)
AJs ATs Raise 1, Call 2 RR Lone Late, Call 1 Call
AJ AT Raise 1, Call 2 RR Lone Late, Fold Call
A9s Call RR Lone Late, Fold Call
A9 A8 Call Fold Call 1 Late, Fold
Axs Ax Call Fold Axs Call, Ax Fold
KQs Call Call 2, or 1 Late Call
KQ Call Fold Call
KJs Call Call 4, or 1 Late Call
KJ Call Fold Call 2, or 1 Late
KTs Call Fold Call
KT Call Fold Call 2, or 1 Late
K9s Call Fold Call
Kxs Call Fold Call 3
QJs Call Call 4 * Call
QJ QTs QT Call Fold Call
Q8s Q8s Call Fold Call 2, or 1 Late
Qxs Call 3 Fold Call 3
JTs Call Call 4 Call
JT J9s Call Fold Call 2
J8s Call Fold Call 3
J7s Call 3 Fold Call 5
T9s Call Call 5 Call 2
T9 T8s Call Fold Call 3
T7s Call 3 Fold Call 4
98s Call Call 5 Call 2
98 97s Call 2 Fold Call 3
96s Call 4 Fold Call 5
87s Call Fold Call 3
87 86s Call 3 Fold Call 4
85s Call 4 Fold Fold
76s Call Fold Call 3
76 75s Call 3 Fold Call 4
65s Call 2 Fold Call 3
65 64s Call 3 Fold Fold
54s Call 2 Fold Call 4
54 53s 43s 32s Call 4 Fold Fold

In the Big Blind, cap with AA, KK, and sometimes QQ. Only call reraise with JJ, AKs, AK, AQs, AQ, and AJs. Raise limpers where indicated.

Latest news

December 6, 2006:
Pot odds for added to basic postflop play in NLHE section.

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