Pocket Strength
Understanding Pocket Cards Strengths
One of the most basic components in poker is the starting hand, or pocket. There are only 169 different starting hands in Texas Hold’Em. Each player’ s pocket cards have a starting value or ranking which is determined by the winning success rate of this combination of cards run through thousands of simulations. This statistical value represents the amount of times it should win over a period of time. You may have seen a dozen starting hand charts and you will always notice that AA, KK, QQ are at the top of the list. Some charts categorize these starting hands into different tier groups.
The winning percentage of any given starting hand can be misleading. For example, pocket aces (A-A) wins out approximately 85% of the time against one opponent, but against 5 or more opponents, pocket aces lose their starting value, winning out 50% of the time or less. In fact, all starting hands deteriorate in strength when faced with a larger pool of players that remain in the hand. The reason for this is simple. Each hand has a chance to win. Even the worst hand, arguably 7-2 offsuited, has a chance to flop a board of 2 7 2 . While this is a very low percentage play, it can and will happen on occasion.
In order to maximize your chances of winning with strong hands, you must eliminate the weaker hands as soon as possible. If your hand is strong from the start, it does not mean that it will be strong in the end. It is important to remember that each hand has a unique strength, no matter what the hand charts indicate. For example, 4 8 suited spades, has an advantage over any other hand if the flop comes 5 6 7 of the same suit. The odds of this happening are astronomical, of course, but, in such an instance, only the 4 8 suited spades pocket will claim this pot. While this starting hand is not often played, and certainly not when a large raise has been made ahead of the player holding this hand, it is a playable hand, particularly from the blinds.
Some pockets are played purely for their draw strength. Ace 5 suited hearts would be an ideal draw hand if the flop is 3 4 6 with two of the cards being hearts. In fact, this would play right into the strengths of the player’s pocket cards, because it gives him a flush draw as well as a straight draw. The danger however lies in the player’s ability to make the right judgment in holding or folding his cards as the hand plays out.
Being able to recognize the strength of your pocket cards is important when you decide to enter into the hand, however, at the same time, you must also learn to accept the weakness of the hand as well. Ace 9 suited is a strong hand to hold if you flop 2 out of three suited cards, but it does not give you an edge if the flop involves an ace and none of the suited cards that you need. While you may have paired the Aces, there is no guarantee that someone else did not pair the Aces with a higher kicker.
So before you pick up a starting hand chart, and think that you should only play the hands with the highest winning percentages and win all of the time, you must consider additional factors, such as the number of players in the hand, and how the hand can play out to hurt or help your chances of winning.
