How do you play pocket tens?

Pocket tens is a strong hand you open from every seat and re-raise against most opponents, while staying aware that it slips behind the bigger pairs.

Pocket Tens

Strong

75%

Equity vs a random hand

6

Combos (of 1,326)

5/5

Seats that open it

Raise it freely and re-raise it as a value hand against the field. It flips against ace king and beats every smaller pair, so it is happy to play a big pot in most spots. The exception is deep four-bet action from a tight player, where tens turn into more of a set-mining hand than a stack-off hand, since you are now up against jacks and better plus ace king.

This hand opens for a raise from every position, including under the gun.

Common mistake: Treating it as a premium against the tightest players. Against a range of bigger pairs and ace king, tens are flipping at best, so do not pile in the whole stack preflop without a read.

Quick tip: Ahead of every pair below it, behind every pair above it, and a coin flip against ace king. A strong hand, not a monster.