In poker, the term “hole cards” refers to the starting cards which are dealt to a player face down, i.e., the cards which remain a secret from the other participants in the hand. Players only see their own hole cards and use them in combination with the community cards on the table to create poker combinations.

In Texas hold ‘em, for example, each player is dealt two hole cards. These cards remain secret until the end of the hand, and players try to use them in combination with the five community cards (the flop, turn, and river) to create the best poker combination.

Hole cards play a key role in poker strategy, as they determine the strength of a player’s starting hand and influence their decisions in various situations during the game. Players try to place the most profitable bets and make decisions based on the information they can obtain from their hole cards and the community cards on the table.