Play Fewer Hands

Learn how to play like Phil Ivey

In Texas Hold'em there are 169 different possible starting hands you can 5️⃣ be dealt (this is ignoring specific suits). Out of all these possible hands, there are only five hands that are 5️⃣ considered "premium."

AA KK QQ AK (Suited) JJ

Regardless of your position at the table, a premium hand should always be played 5️⃣ if there is no raise ahead of you. If there is a raise ahead of you - especially if there 5️⃣ are callers or re-raises - sometimes it can even be a mistake to play anything below Aces or Kings. When 5️⃣ you think about Texas Hold'em starting hands this way, you'll realize you should be folding around 80% more hands.