Play Fewer Hands

Learn how to play like Phil Ivey

In Texas Hold'em there are 169 different possible starting hands you can 2️⃣ be dealt (this is ignoring specific suits). Out of all these possible hands, there are only five hands that are 2️⃣ considered "premium."

AA KK QQ AK (Suited) JJ

Regardless of your position at the table, a premium hand should always be played 2️⃣ if there is no raise ahead of you. If there is a raise ahead of you - especially if there 2️⃣ are callers or re-raises - sometimes it can even be a mistake to play anything below Aces or Kings. When 2️⃣ you think about Texas Hold'em starting hands this way, you'll realize you should be folding around 80% more hands.