Poker is a game of strategy, skill, and luck. One of the most important aspects of the game is knowing what starting hand combinations are available to you.
There are many different starting hand combinations in poker, but just how many are there? In this article, we will explore the answer to this question in detail.
To begin with, let’s define what we mean by a starting hand combination. In poker, each player is dealt two cards at the beginning of each hand.
These two cards are known as the player’s “hole cards” or “pocket cards”. A starting hand combination refers to any possible combination of two cards that a player can be dealt.
So, how many starting hand combinations are there in poker? The answer depends on several factors, including the number of players at the table and whether or not suits matter. Let’s break it down.
In a standard deck of 52 playing cards, there are a total of 1,326 possible two-card combinations. This number includes all possible combinations regardless of whether or not they are suited.
However, in poker, suits do matter. So if we take into account all possible combinations of suited and unsuited cards separately, the total number of starting hand combinations increases.
If we consider only unsuited card combinations and assume that there are no duplicates (i.e., no two players can have the same two cards), then there are a total of 1,098 possible starting hand combinations in poker. This number is arrived at by multiplying 52 (the number of cards in the deck) by 51 (the remaining number of cards after one card has been dealt to each player), then dividing by two (since order doesn’t matter).
However, if we take into account suited card combinations as well as duplicate hands (i., multiple players can have the same two-card combination), then the total number of starting hand combinations increases significantly. In fact, the total number of starting hand combinations in poker is a staggering 16,432.
This number is arrived at by taking the total number of possible two-card combinations (1,326) and multiplying it by 12 (the number of possible combinations for each suit). This gives us a total of 15,912 possible suited starting hand combinations. However, we must also add the 520 possible duplicate hands (i., hands that are identical to another player’s hand) to arrive at the final total of 16,432.
It’s worth noting that while there are a large number of starting hand combinations in poker, not all of them are created equal. Some starting hands are much stronger than others and will give you a better chance of winning the pot. Understanding which starting hands to play and which to fold is a key part of becoming a successful poker player.
In conclusion, there are many different starting hand combinations in poker, with the total number depending on factors such as suits and duplicates. The exact number can be quite daunting, but it’s important for players to understand which starting hands are strong and which should be avoided. By doing so, players can improve their chances of winning at the poker table.
