Poker glossary

Premium Hands

Premium hands are the best starting hands in poker, such as pairs of aces, kings and queens, and ace-king. They have the highest potential to win the pot and are strong enough to play from any position.

The simple explanation

In Hold'em, premium hands are the best two-card hands. You should raise with them in almost every case.

A closer look

The exact list varies, but it usually includes AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK. Premium hands should be raised and sometimes re-raised for value. After the flop, they do not always win, so play carefully when the board is dangerous. They are only a small part of all hands, so patience is needed.

A practical example

You are dealt A♠ K♠, one of the premium hands, and raise.

Full explanation

Premium hands are the best starting hands.

Examples are AA, KK, QQ and AK.

Raise with them from any position.

They do not always win.

Premium hands

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of spades (As)King of spades (Ks) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 with ace and king of spades. Hands like this are among the premium hands, the best starting hands.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of spades (As)King of spades (Ks) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

Explore this topic