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The starting hands chart: the 15% worth playing
Out of 169 possible starting hands, you'll play roughly 25 of them. Here they are, grouped by how they make money — because the three groups want different things.
A quick notation note: A-K means an Ace and a King. A little s means suited — both cards the same suit, like 9♥8♥, which matters because it adds flush possibilities. Pocket pair means your two hidden cards match, like 5♣5♦.
♠ THE STARTING HAND CHART ♠
These win without improving. Dealt about 3% of hands. If you played only these, you'd bore everyone and still beat most small-stakes tables.
Good hands that usually make a good Tier 1 pair. They want few opponents and a decent seat.
Lottery tickets aimed at Tier 2. Small pairs want three of a kind (see gate ♠E). Suited connectors want straights and flushes. They miss most flops, so they need a cheap ride in and a big payday when they hit.
Everything not on this chart — the K-8s, the Q-3s, the A-4 offsuit that looks so tempting because it has an Ace in it — is a fold. Those hands make second-best Tier 1 hands, and second-best is how stacks disappear.
Notice the chart already talks about seats. That's the ♣ CLUB section — hand strength and seat position are one decision, not two.
▶Practice thisRun the seat drill on real cards.