In chapter 3 of Advanced Texas Hold’em, David Hamms explains why the first two cards you are dealt largely determine your long-term success, even though any two cards can technically win a hand. The chapter argues that strong starting hands win more often, win bigger pots, and are far easier to play correctly after the flop.
Why “Any Two Cards Can Win” Is Misleading
Hamms acknowledges that weak hands can occasionally win, but stresses that they do so far less frequently and often lead to difficult decisions. Since flopping a strong hand is already rare, starting with weak cards compounds the problem by producing marginal hands that are hard to protect and harder to fold.
Small two-pair or weak top-pair hands may look strong on the flop, but they are often dominated by better kickers, higher pairs, or board developments that favor opponents.
The Importance of Flopping Strong Hands
The chapter emphasizes that when you do hit the flop, you want your hand to be clearly strong, not just barely ahead. Weak two-pair or low paired hands are vulnerable to:
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Higher paired boards
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Opponents with stronger pocket pairs
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Better kickers
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Hidden full houses or trips
Being able to fold these hands is a critical skill, but avoiding them in the first place by choosing better starting cards is even more important.
Starting Hands and Flop Probabilities
Hamms uses probability to show that most flops result in one-pair hands, even when starting with pocket pairs or premium cards. Because one-pair situations are so common, the quality of that pair matters greatly.
High cards with strong kickers outperform low-value starting hands because:
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They make stronger top pairs
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Their two-pair combinations are more robust
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They are less likely to be dominated
This is one of the main statistical reasons premium hands outperform speculative ones over time.
Why Kickers Matter So Much
A major takeaway from the chapter is the value of a strong kicker. When two players hold the same pair at showdown, the kicker often decides the winner. Weak kickers force players to:
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Invest cautiously even when ahead
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Miss value when betting
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Lose large pots when dominated
Against loose players especially, a strong kicker becomes essential, as these opponents often chase hands aggressively and reach showdowns more frequently.
Small Two-Pair and Its Hidden Danger
While two-pair occurs relatively often, Hamms explains that small two-pair is fragile. It is easily beaten if:
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The board pairs a higher rank
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An opponent already held a higher pocket pair
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A stronger two-pair or full house develops
This makes small two-pair hands deceptive and expensive for players who overvalue them.
When Small Suited Connectors Make Sense
Hamms does not dismiss speculative hands entirely. Small suited connectors can be played profitably:
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In late position
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Against multiple limpers
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When facing small flop bets
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With correct pot odds
These hands are not played to make one pair, but to hit strong draws or hidden monsters like straights, flushes, or sets that can win large pots.
Winning Money vs. Winning Pots
The chapter concludes with a key poker principle: the goal is not to win many pots, but to win the most money. Seeing too many flops with weak hands may produce frequent small wins, but those gains are often erased when marginal hands lose larger pots later.
Hamms argues that disciplined folding and patience lead to fewer hands played—but far more profitable ones—reinforcing why strong starting cards are the foundation of winning poker.
Core Takeaway
Chapter 3 reinforces that strong starting hands simplify decisions, protect bankrolls, and maximize profits. By prioritizing high-quality cards, strong kickers, and clear post-flop advantages, players avoid costly marginal situations and position themselves to win the pots that truly matter.