Poker Hand Rankings

Even at the highest levels, profitability in poker is largely determined by a player's ability to choose the right starting hands. If you fail in this regard or somehow lose your discipline, it's nearly impossible to recover. Fancy plays and good decisions on later streets cannot overcome early-hand mistakes. If you're throwing money into a pot when you shouldn't, you're going to lose money. There's no way around it. If you find yourself in a stretch where things aren't going especially well, take a step back and make sure your hand selection is all it ought to be. David Grey

Hold'em Hand Groupings:

• Group 1: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs
• Group2: TT, AQs, AJs, KQs, AK
• Group3: 99, JTs, QJs, KJs, ATs, AQ
• Group4: T9s, KQ, 88, QTs, 98s, J9s, AJ, KTs
• Group5: 77, 87s, Q9s, T8s, KJ, QJ, JT, 76s, 97s, Axs, 65s
• Group6: 66, AT, 55, 86s, KT, QT, 54s, K9s, J8s, 75s
• Group7: 44, J9, 64s, T9, 53s, 33, 98, 43s, 22, Kxs, T7s, Q8s
• Group8: 87, A9, Q9, 76, 42s, 32s, 96s, 85s, J8, J7s, 65, 54, 74s, K9, T8, 43