Pockets, sometimes referred to as hole cards, refer to the starting hands dealt to an individual player while playing Texas Hold Em variation of the poker card game. When the game begins, each player is dealt just 2 cards from the deck. There are a total of 52 * 51 = 2,652 possible Texas Hold Em pocket card starting combinations. Thankfully, you don't need to memorize all of them to play Hold Em. Instead, most players just recognize which ones make for the strongest openers and bet on those, and fold the weaker pockets in order to conserve their bankroll.

There are lots of different strategies out there, but to explain it most simply, it's only a matter of looking for particular feature conditions of a given hand. Look for the following conditions:

1. Cards that are high in value, such as 10 and above:

   
   
   

2. Cards that are suited:

   or
   
   

3. Cards that are the same value, making a pair:

   or

Here at Colorado Poker Online, we like to use a Texas Hold Em pocket card ranking system called the Chen Formula, named after the famous American quantitative analyst and professional poker player. The system uses a collection of simple heuristics, similar to above, in order to rank all opening hands on a scale from bad to 20.

You can practice playing any opening hand by clicking on the links below!

Pockets	Chen Score
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	8
	9
	10
	13
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	7
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	5
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	2
	5
	5.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	6
	3.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1
	2
	3
	6
	6.5
	4
	3.5
	3
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	7
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	6.5
	7
	4.5
	4
	4
	4
	5
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	7
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	7.5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	7
	1.5
	1.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	4.5
	7.5
	8
	6
	6
	6
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	9
	7
	7
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	9
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	10
	8
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	10
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	5
	6
	7
	10
	11
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	13
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16

Pockets	Chen Score
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	8
	9
	10
	13
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	5
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	2
	5
	5.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	6
	3.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1
	2
	3
	6
	6.5
	4
	3.5
	3
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	7
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	6.5
	7
	4.5
	4
	4
	4
	5
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	7
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	7.5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	7
	1.5
	1.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	4.5
	7.5
	8
	6
	6
	6
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	9
	7
	7
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	9
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	10
	8
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	10
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	5
	6
	7
	10
	11
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	13
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16

Pockets	Chen Score
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	8
	9
	10
	13
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	5
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	2
	5
	5.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	6
	3.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1
	2
	3
	6
	6.5
	4
	3.5
	3
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	7
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	6.5
	7
	4.5
	4
	4
	4
	5
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	7
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	7.5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	7
	1.5
	1.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	4.5
	7.5
	8
	6
	6
	6
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	9
	7
	7
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	9
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	10
	8
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	10
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	5
	6
	7
	10
	11
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	13
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16

Pockets	Chen Score
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	20
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	7
	8
	9
	10
	13
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	5
	2.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-1.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	2.5
	5
	3
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	-1
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	4.5
	5
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	0
	3
	5
	3.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	-0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	2
	5
	5.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	1.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-0.5
	0.5
	3.5
	6
	4
	1.5
	1
	0.5
	0
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	6
	3.5
	3
	2.5
	2
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	5
	-1
	0
	1
	4
	6
	4.5
	2
	1.5
	1
	1
	2
	3
	7
	1
	2
	3
	6
	6.5
	4
	3.5
	3
	3
	4
	5
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	5
	-1.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	4.5
	7
	5
	2.5
	2
	2
	2
	3
	7
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	6.5
	7
	4.5
	4
	4
	4
	5
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	5
	-1
	-1
	0
	1
	2
	5
	8
	5.5
	3
	3
	3
	3
	7
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	7.5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	-0.5
	0.5
	1.5
	2.5
	5.5
	9
	6
	4
	4
	4
	7
	1.5
	1.5
	1.5
	2.5
	3.5
	4.5
	7.5
	8
	6
	6
	6
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	6
	0
	0
	0
	0
	1
	2
	3
	6
	10
	7
	5
	5
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	9
	7
	7
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	7
	1
	1
	1
	1
	1
	2
	3
	4
	7
	12
	8
	6
	9
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	10
	8
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	8
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	2
	3
	4
	5
	8
	14
	9
	10
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	4
	5
	6
	7
	10
	11
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	11
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	3
	4
	5
	6
	9
	16
	13
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	5
	6
	7
	8
	11