For example, A ♥ J ♥ and A ♠ J ♠ are identical in value, because each is a hand consisting of an ace and a jack of the same suit. There are 1326 distinct possible combinations of two hole cards from a standard 52-card deck in hold 'em, but since suits have no absolute value in this poker variant, many of these hands are identical in value before the flop. Unless otherwise specified, here the term hand applies to the player's two hole cards, or starting hand. The player's 'playing hand', which will be compared against that of each competing player, is the best 5-card poker hand available from his two hole cards and the five community cards. Betting begins before any of the community cards are exposed, and continues throughout the hand.

Five community cards are also dealt into play. In Texas hold 'em, a starting hand consists of two hole cards, which belong solely to the player and remain hidden from the other players. A pair of aces is the best pre- flop hand in Texas Hold'em Poker