In Texas holdem the first two cards dealt to each player are the holdem starting hands. As a players’ starting hand consists of two “hole” cards it is essential that the odds on the dealt cards are understood as it is on the strength of these two cards that the decision to bet will be made.
One hand in every 17 dealt will be a “pocket pair” (2 cards of the same rank), 4 hands out of every 17 will be “suited” cards (and a potential Flush) and 12 in 17 will be “offsuit” hands ( which could be ranking cards and potential high pairs e.g. Ace of Hearts and King of Clubs).
Generally all of the holdem starting hands have different strengths, these are rated on the assumption that nine or ten people are playing so if you are one of the first players any “pocket pair” is worth a bet but higher pairs should be played with restraint to leave your opponents guessing as to their value. The later your position at the table will influence the choices you make according to the value of your cards, the number of active hands and the size of the bets. If you were the seventh to tenth player and there were several...