“Stop clicking that trash,” messaged my online poker coach after reviewing my hand history. I’d been playing Queen-Ten offsuit from early position in 6-max games.
Tracking stats don’t lie—I was losing money with 70% of the hands I played. Let me share which hands consistently built my bankroll after playing 100,000+ hands online.
Swiss players seeking a premium poker experience should visit My-Casino Online, which offers a diverse selection of over 2,000 games, including various poker variants. Their welcome package of up to 300 CHF plus 200 free spins and straightforward verification process provides excellent value, while their live dealer section features professional croupiers for authentic gameplay.
Quick Hand Ranking Refresher
For reference, poker hands from best to worst:
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 (same suit)
- Straight Flush: 5 consecutive cards (same suit)
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: Three of a kind + pair
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit
- Straight: Five consecutive cards
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pairs: Two different pairs
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank
- High Card: The Highest card wins with no pairs
Hands That Make Money
Pocket Aces
Everyone loves aces, but many play them wrong online. Always raise pre-flop, usually raising big.
My biggest mistake? Limping with aces, trying to be “tricky.” Five players saw a cheap flop, and even when I hit my set, there wasn’t enough in the pot to matter. 
Online poker moves fast – you might only see aces once every few hours. Make them count by building the pot early.
Pocket Kings
Cowboys come with a psychological challenge online. Fear of an ace hitting the flop makes people play kings poorly.
My study group’s data showed that most players lose money with kings because they play too cautiously or fold too often when an ace hits.
My strategy? Treat them like aces pre-flop. The only time I consider folding kings pre-flop is facing multiple re-raises in high-stakes games against tight players.
Ace-King Suited
Big Slick suited looks gorgeous, but plays tricky. Remember – it’s a drawing hand with zero pairs until you hit the flop.
Classic mistake? Overplaying AK like it’s already made. My hand history showed this was my biggest leak.
Raise pre-flop, then let the flop tell you whether to continue. In online games where players overvalue top pair, AK becomes extremely profitable when you hit.
Pocket Queens
The Ladies cause more heartbreak online than any premium pair. They look strong enough to go to war with, but are vulnerable in a world where everyone plays Ax hands.
Position matters enormously. From an early position, standard raise, but be ready to fold facing heavy action. In late position against loose players, queens play much stronger.
My best results come when facing loose-aggressive players who 3-bet liberally. Queens are perfect for trapping these players.
Ten-Eight Suited
Surprised? This sneaky hand makes disguised straights and flushes that get paid because nobody puts you on T8s online.
According to my tracking data, T8s are among my most profitable hands in BB/100, but only in certain spots:
- Never play from an early position
- Never open-raise unless on the button against passive players
- Needs cheap entry and multiple opponents
Eight-Seven Suited
The “construction worker” hand builds straights better than almost any other connected cards. With two possible straight draws (5-6-7-8-9 and 6-7-8-9-T) plus flush potential, it’s surprisingly profitable.
The strategy: Play 87s in multi-way pots with cheap entry. This hand shines in tournaments with favorable stack-to-pot ratios.
Online tell: Watch how quickly opponents bet. Instant bets often signal weakness, while delays usually indicate strength – crucial information for drawing hands.
Position: Your Secret Weapon
In online poker: “Play the position, then the stats, then the cards.”
Button play revolutionized my results. My win rate from the button is 7BB/100 compared to -2BB/100 from early positions.
Medium-strength hands like K9 suited become profitable on the button even though they’re instant folds from early position.
In 6-max games, position awareness is even more critical. The cutoff essentially becomes another button in many hands.
When taking breaks from tactical poker play, many professionals enjoy relaxing with Aristocrat pokies online free in demo mode, as these games require no strategic decisions and provide a mental reset before returning to more demanding poker sessions.
Bottom Line
Profitable online poker isn’t just about premium hands – it’s playing the right hands in the right positions against the right opponents.
Premium hands (aces/kings): Build pots early regardless of position. Speculative hands (suited connectors): Need good position, multiple opponents, and favorable stack depths.
If you’re using tracking software, review which hands make you money. My unexpected profit hand? Pocket fives—they’ve won more than any other small pair, likely because nobody expects much when I hit a set.