Starting hand
In poker, the dealer deals out cards to each player before any voluntary bets are placed. These cards are known as the starting hand for each player. While the forced bets, such as blinds, may be placed in the pot, the starting hand consists of cards that are handed out before the first round of betting takes place.
The number of starting cards handed out depends on the type of variation of poker that is being played. For e.g. in Texas Hold’em, a player receives two cards as the starting hand whereas in a game like seven-card stud, seven starting cards comprise the starting hand.
Players can continue playing with their starting hand or choose to fold, in the case of Hold’em games. In draw poker games, players can discard some of the cards that they receive in their starting hand and then, collect new cards as replacements. The hand formed after taking the replacements is not termed as their starting hand.
Starting hands are extremely crucial in determining the betting structure for each player. Players decide their strategy for each round based on the starting cards they get.
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