Ranking of Hold'em Starting Hands
written by BeatTheFish.com
While we all know that pocket Aces are
the absolute best hand to have before the flop in Texas Hold'em,
ranking the actual exact winning percentage of each poker hand
against a random opponent's cards becomes a bit more murky. However,
it is fascinating to actually see how specific starting hand
combinations rank against each other in terms of how often and how
much they win, on average.
Below you'll find a list of Texas
Hold'em starting hands organized by relative strength. While many
poker authors like to give you their starting hand recommendations,
few actually show you how each starting hand ranks to one another
statistically. Of course, the fundamentals of poker are based on
proper starting hand selection, so take a look and see how the cards
you play rank.
If you're looking for more poker
strategy, you can check out our extensive
poker
strategy section or our specific guide on
how
to beat the fish at online poker. Also, if you're looking for
the rank of made poker hands, try our standard
poker hand rankings or learn poker lingo for
poker hand nicknames.
Hold'em Starting Cards Ranked by Winning Percentage
The following chart contains every 2-card possible combination you
can be dealt in Texas Hold'em. The hands are arranged by largest
hole card and first include a section of pairs. Each hand will be
followed by its long-term winning percentage (out of 100, of course)
against a specific number of opponents holding random cards. To find
a hand, look it up by its largest card.
Average Winning Percentage (out of 100) with Pairs
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
AA |
85 |
73 |
64 |
56 |
49 |
43 |
39 |
31 |
|
KK |
82 |
69 |
58 |
50 |
43 |
38 |
33 |
29 |
|
QQ |
80 |
65 |
54 |
45 |
38 |
33 |
28 |
25 |
|
JJ |
78 |
61 |
49 |
40 |
34 |
29 |
25 |
22 |
|
1010 |
75 |
58 |
45 |
36 |
30 |
25 |
22 |
19 |
|
99 |
72 |
54 |
41 |
33 |
26 |
22 |
19 |
17 |
|
88 |
69 |
50 |
38 |
29 |
24 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
|
77 |
66 |
46 |
34 |
26 |
21 |
19 |
16 |
15 |
|
66 |
63 |
43 |
32 |
25 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
|
55 |
60 |
40 |
29 |
22 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
|
44 |
57 |
37 |
25 |
21 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
|
33 |
54 |
34 |
24 |
19 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
|
22 |
50 |
31 |
22 |
18 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
Ace-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
AK (suited) |
67 |
51 |
41 |
35 |
31 |
28 |
25 |
23 |
|
AK |
65 |
48 |
39 |
32 |
28 |
24 |
22 |
19 |
|
AQ |
64 |
47 |
37 |
30 |
26 |
23 |
20 |
18 |
|
AJ |
64 |
46 |
35 |
29 |
24 |
21 |
18 |
16 |
|
A10 |
63 |
44 |
34 |
28 |
23 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
|
A9 |
61 |
42 |
31 |
25 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
13 |
|
A8 |
60 |
41 |
30 |
24 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
|
A7 |
59 |
39 |
28 |
22 |
18 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
|
A6 |
58 |
38 |
28 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
A5 |
58 |
38 |
28 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
A4 |
56 |
37 |
27 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
A3 |
56 |
36 |
26 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
|
A2 |
55 |
35 |
25 |
20 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
King-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
KQ (suited) |
63 |
47 |
38 |
33 |
28 |
25 |
23 |
20 |
|
KQ |
61 |
44 |
35 |
29 |
25 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
|
KJ |
61 |
43 |
34 |
28 |
24 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
|
K10 |
60 |
42 |
33 |
27 |
22 |
19 |
17 |
15 |
|
K9 |
58 |
40 |
30 |
24 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
|
K8 |
56 |
37 |
27 |
21 |
17 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
|
K7 |
55 |
36 |
26 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
|
K6 |
54 |
35 |
25 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
K5 |
53 |
34 |
25 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
K4 |
52 |
33 |
23 |
18 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
|
K3 |
51 |
32 |
23 |
18 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
|
K2 |
50 |
31 |
22 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
Q-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
QJ (suited) |
60 |
44 |
36 |
30 |
26 |
23 |
21 |
19 |
|
QJ |
58 |
41 |
33 |
27 |
23 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
|
Q10 |
57 |
40 |
31 |
26 |
22 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
|
Q9 |
56 |
38 |
29 |
23 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
|
Q8 |
54 |
35 |
26 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
Q7 |
52 |
33 |
24 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
|
Q6 |
51 |
32 |
23 |
18 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
|
Q5 |
50 |
31 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
|
Q4 |
49 |
30 |
21 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
|
Q3 |
48 |
29 |
21 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
|
Q2 |
47 |
28 |
20 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
J-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
J10 (suited) |
58 |
42 |
34 |
29 |
25 |
22 |
20 |
18 |
|
J10 |
55 |
39 |
31 |
25 |
22 |
19 |
16 |
15 |
|
J9 |
53 |
37 |
28 |
23 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
|
J8 |
52 |
34 |
26 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
J7 |
50 |
32 |
24 |
18 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
|
J6 |
48 |
30 |
21 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
|
J5 |
47 |
29 |
21 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
|
J4 |
46 |
28 |
20 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
|
J3 |
45 |
27 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
|
J2 |
44 |
26 |
18 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
10-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
T9
(suited) |
54 |
39 |
31 |
26 |
23 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
|
T9 |
52 |
32 |
28 |
23 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
|
T8 |
50 |
34 |
25 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
11 |
|
T7 |
48 |
31 |
23 |
18 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
T6 |
46 |
29 |
21 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
8 |
|
T5 |
44 |
27 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
|
T4 |
43 |
26 |
19 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
|
T3 |
42 |
26 |
18 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
|
T2 |
42 |
25 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
9-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
98 (suited) |
51 |
36 |
29 |
24 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
15 |
|
98 |
48 |
33 |
25 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
97 |
47 |
31 |
23 |
18 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
96 |
45 |
29 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
|
95 |
43 |
27 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
7 |
|
94 |
41 |
25 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
|
93 |
40 |
24 |
17 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
|
92 |
39 |
23 |
16 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
8-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
87 (suited) |
48 |
34 |
27 |
22 |
19 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
|
87 |
46 |
31 |
23 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
|
86 |
44 |
29 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
|
85 |
42 |
27 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
|
84 |
40 |
24 |
18 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
|
83 |
38 |
22 |
16 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
|
82 |
37 |
22 |
15 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
7-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
76 (suited) |
46 |
32 |
25 |
21 |
18 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
|
76 |
43 |
29 |
22 |
17 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
|
75 |
41 |
27 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
|
74 |
38 |
25 |
18 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
|
73 |
37 |
22 |
16 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
|
72 |
35 |
20 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
6-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
3%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
65 (suited) |
43 |
30 |
24 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
|
65 |
40 |
27 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
|
64 |
38 |
25 |
18 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
|
63 |
36 |
23 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
|
62 |
34 |
21 |
15 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
5-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
4%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
54 (suited) |
41 |
29 |
23 |
19 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
|
54 |
38 |
25 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
|
53 |
36 |
23 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
|
52 |
34 |
21 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
4-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
4%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
43 (suited) |
38 |
26 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
|
43 |
34 |
22 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
|
42 |
33 |
21 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
Average Winning Percentage (out of
100) with
3-x
Note: suited cards add an average of
4%.
|
CARDS |
# of Opponents |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
32 (suited) |
35 |
24 |
18 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
|
32 |
31 |
20 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
Essentially, the lesson here is to hold
strong starting cards and thin the field when you play a favorite.
You can see the extremely low average winning percentage for
commonly played hands like Q10 or J9 offsuit so our advice would
have to be to stick to the premium hands as you learn the game. As
you gain more experience, you can experiment with those lower
percentage starting cards but you'll need to be disciplined enough
to learn when to continue beyond the flop.
Interestingly (but not surprisingly),
every hand wins less when you're playing against more opponents.
Even the top two hold'em hands of AA and KK win, on average, less
than half of the pots when 4 or 5 players stay in. Your goal should
be to thin the field preflop and increase your odds of that premium
hand holding up.
The hands that you want to encourage
opponents with, such as low suited connectors, have such low winning
expectations anyway that you'll need huge pot odds from the extra
callers to make them worthwhile. These are essential no-limit
hold'em concepts.
Back to General Poker
Strategy
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