Keep Those Dirty Hands Folded: The Worst Starting Hands in Poker

Just as waking up in a good mood pretty much guarantees that the rest of one's day will turn out swell, the starting hand in Poker has a significant influence over the course that the game will take. A good starting hand gives the player a considerable edge over their opponents, while a bad hand could spell nothing short of disaster.

Considered as one of the absolute worst hands in poker, specifically in Texas Hold'em, the 2-7 hand is a particularly poor combination even when paired with community cards. Incorporated into a straight, this hand can easily be beaten by any player with an 8. While it is possible for one to get two pairs, the odds for this is very remote, and one is better off folding upon receiving this hand. Otherwise, starting a game with the 2-7 hand places one at a significantly huge disadvantage.

Although the 2-10 hand had helped professional poker player "Texas Dolly" Doyle Brunson win on two occasions, it is mainly still counted among the most dreadful of starting hands. This hand bears some resemblance to the 2-7 hand and is not capable of forming a straight. Even a 2 paired with one of the community cards still results in a low pair. Unless one has a particularly keen expertise in poker strategy, or if one is feeling daring or lucky, folding the 2-10 is strongly advised.

Despite the fact that it can make a pair, the 2-6 hand is still regarded as a bad starting hand. The probability that one can obtain the 3, 4 and 5 at the community cards is very slim, and the pairs that one can possibly get with this hand are pretty small. The disadvantages of the 2-6 greatly outweigh its advantages, and so it is much safer to fold it instead.

The face card plus low card unsuited hand is a starting hand that many poker players employ, but it is actually one that they should avoid. Most rookie players make the mistake of playing any hand with a face card, regardless of whether the affixed card is a high one or a low one or if they are even of the same suit. It would take an ingenious strategy or quite a bit of luck to pair the face card using this starting hand. Otherwise, an ace is all it takes to beat anyone playing with this hand.

How one starts a poker game pretty much determines how it'll end. While even the most experienced poker player can start with a bad hand and still somehow manage to turn the game around, the average player is advised to play it safe. There's no shame in folding; considerably less so, in fact, than to crash and burn in the game.