TablePlus Poker Guide: Hand Rankings, Positions and Table Strategy

Two poker finalists walk out on stage before heads-up play — Photo: Dutch Boyd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Image credits

Key takeaways

Memorise the ten hand rankings before you sit at any table.
Play fewer hands, but play them aggressively, especially in late position.
Keep at least 20 buy-ins for your chosen stake.

Hand rankings (strongest to weakest)

Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. The full list of poker hands includes examples and tie-break rules if you want to go deeper.

How Hold’em works

Texas Hold’em is the most common game on poker tables, including fast-fold formats on mobile. Each player gets two private cards. Five shared cards come out across the flop (three), the turn (one) and the river (one), with a betting round at each stage. Your best five-card hand wins at showdown, or you win earlier if everyone else folds.

Poker players line up on stage at a televised final table — A televised final table, where position and patience decide who is left standing. Photo: Compy90 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). Image credits

Why position matters

Acting last lets you see what everyone else does first. That is pure information. The button (dealer position) is the most profitable seat, and the blinds are the least. As a beginner, play more hands from late position and fewer from early position.

Starting-hand discipline

Position	Playable hands (simple starter range)
Early	Pairs 77+, AK, AQ, AJ suited, KQ suited
Middle	Add pairs 55+, AJ, KQ, suited connectors like T9s
Late / button	Add small pairs, suited aces, most suited connectors

Dealer hands and cards spread across a blackjack table — Card games reward discipline more than luck over time. Photo: Frerk Meyer / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Image credits

Poker bankroll

Variance in poker is brutal even for winning players. Keep at least 20 buy-ins for cash games and more for tournaments. Move down in stakes after a losing streak rather than up. Set session limits with our responsible gaming checklist.

Want something faster between hands? Compare slots and fishing games, or bet on the PBA with our sportsbook guide. New here? Read the TablePlus review and sign-up guide first.

Frequently asked questions

Is poker on TablePlus against other players?

Some poker formats are player-versus-player, while others are casino-style poker against the house. Check each game’s rules screen.

What is the best starting hand?

Pocket aces (AA) are the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em.

How many buy-ins do I need?

At least 20 for cash games is a common guideline for recreational players.

Written by Gerald Tan, iGaming writer for Filipino and Malaysian players. Email geraldtan@tableplus.my.

AI-assisted content: this article was drafted with AI assistance, then fact-checked and edited by Gerald Tan. Last updated 27 October 2026. Editorial policy · Disclaimer · 21+ Play responsibly

TablePlus Poker Guide: Hand Rankings, Positions and Table Strategy

Hand rankings (strongest to weakest)

How Hold’em works

Why position matters

Starting-hand discipline

Poker bankroll

Frequently asked questions

Related TablePlus guides

Sportsbook Guide

Slot Games Guide

TablePlus Review 2026