Texas Hold'em Poker Starting Hands Ranking
Texas Hold'em Poker Starting Hands Ranking Rating: 6,3/10 4963 votes
When writer and 'poker professor' David Sklansky in 1976 published his book, 'Hold'em Poker', he introduced a revolutionary system for starting hand selection in Texas Hold'em. This system has since then been considered The Holy Grail of Poker. Sklansky's 'Hand Ranking Groups', which he later explored in greater detail in the book, 'Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players' (co-written by Mason. In most variants of 6 Plus Hold’em, however, all the streets and betting are the same as in normal Texas Hold’em. Starting ranks and pot odds will be covered soon, but first up, learning the slightly different hand rankings is a must -if you don’t know what wins and loses you’re in big trouble!
Introduction
The following table ranks the top hands in a 3-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.
Explanation of column headings:- Cards: Initial two-card hand.
- Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
- Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 3 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
- Expected value: This is how many units the player can expected to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $1.20.
- Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
- Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.
Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 3-Player Game
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
| Pair of A's | 73.78% | 2.99 | 1.2034 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 69.21% | 2.99 | 1.066 | 0.45% | 0.9% |
| Pair of Q's | 65.29% | 2.98 | 0.9475 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| Pair of J's | 61.57% | 2.98 | 0.835 | 0.45% | 1.81% |
| Pair of T's | 58.02% | 2.98 | 0.7272 | 0.45% | 2.26% |
| Pair of 9's | 54.08% | 2.97 | 0.6084 | 0.45% | 2.71% |
| A/K suited | 51.77% | 2.94 | 0.5221 | 0.3% | 3.02% |
| Pair of 8's | 50.46% | 2.97 | 0.4986 | 0.45% | 3.47% |
| A/Q suited | 50.56% | 2.93 | 0.4824 | 0.3% | 3.77% |
| A/K unsuited | 49.28% | 2.93 | 0.4462 | 0.9% | 4.68% |
| A/J suited | 49.49% | 2.92 | 0.4461 | 0.3% | 4.98% |
| K/Q suited | 48.28% | 2.93 | 0.4128 | 0.3% | 5.28% |
| A/T suited | 48.5% | 2.91 | 0.4121 | 0.3% | 5.58% |
| A/Q unsuited | 48.01% | 2.93 | 0.4045 | 0.9% | 6.49% |
| Pair of 7's | 47.02% | 2.97 | 0.3945 | 0.45% | 6.94% |
| K/J suited | 47.22% | 2.92 | 0.3772 | 0.3% | 7.24% |
| A/J unsuited | 46.84% | 2.91 | 0.3652 | 0.9% | 8.14% |
| K/T suited | 46.24% | 2.91 | 0.3436 | 0.3% | 8.45% |
| A/9 suited | 46.16% | 2.9 | 0.3366 | 0.3% | 8.75% |
| K/Q unsuited | 45.61% | 2.92 | 0.3318 | 0.9% | 9.65% |
| A/T unsuited | 45.79% | 2.9 | 0.3289 | 0.9% | 10.56% |
| Q/J suited | 45.55% | 2.91 | 0.3256 | 0.3% | 10.86% |
| A/8 suited | 45.31% | 2.88 | 0.3058 | 0.3% | 11.16% |
| Pair of 6's | 43.77% | 2.96 | 0.2958 | 0.45% | 11.61% |
| Q/T suited | 44.59% | 2.9 | 0.2932 | 0.3% | 11.92% |
| K/J unsuited | 44.46% | 2.91 | 0.293 | 0.9% | 12.82% |
| A/7 suited | 44.32% | 2.87 | 0.2719 | 0.3% | 13.12% |
| K/9 suited | 43.88% | 2.89 | 0.2689 | 0.3% | 13.42% |
| J/T suited | 43.44% | 2.9 | 0.2582 | 0.3% | 13.73% |
| K/T unsuited | 43.42% | 2.9 | 0.2576 | 0.9% | 14.63% |
| A/9 unsuited | 43.25% | 2.88 | 0.2473 | 0.9% | 15.54% |
| A/5 suited | 43.59% | 2.85 | 0.2431 | 0.3% | 15.84% |
| Q/J unsuited | 42.76% | 2.9 | 0.2406 | 0.9% | 16.74% |
| A/6 suited | 43.19% | 2.86 | 0.2348 | 0.3% | 17.04% |
| Q/9 suited | 42.25% | 2.89 | 0.2193 | 0.3% | 17.35% |
| A/4 suited | 42.7% | 2.85 | 0.2161 | 0.3% | 17.65% |
| A/8 unsuited | 42.31% | 2.87 | 0.2136 | 0.9% | 18.55% |
| Q/T unsuited | 41.73% | 2.89 | 0.206 | 0.9% | 19.46% |
| K/8 suited | 41.91% | 2.88 | 0.2048 | 0.3% | 19.76% |
| Pair of 5's | 40.7% | 2.95 | 0.2017 | 0.45% | 20.21% |
| A/3 suited | 41.8% | 2.85 | 0.1901 | 0.3% | 20.51% |
| J/9 suited | 41.11% | 2.88 | 0.1844 | 0.3% | 20.81% |
| K/7 suited | 41.19% | 2.86 | 0.1786 | 0.3% | 21.12% |
| A/7 unsuited | 41.25% | 2.85 | 0.177 | 0.9% | 22.02% |
| K/9 unsuited | 40.88% | 2.88 | 0.1769 | 0.9% | 22.93% |
| J/T unsuited | 40.58% | 2.89 | 0.171 | 0.9% | 23.83% |
| A/2 suited | 40.86% | 2.85 | 0.163 | 0.3% | 24.13% |
| T/9 suited | 40.38% | 2.88 | 0.1617 | 0.3% | 24.43% |
| Q/8 suited | 40.28% | 2.87 | 0.1564 | 0.3% | 24.74% |
| K/6 suited | 40.29% | 2.85 | 0.1483 | 0.3% | 25.04% |
| A/5 unsuited | 40.46% | 2.83 | 0.1458 | 0.9% | 25.94% |
| A/6 unsuited | 40.04% | 2.84 | 0.1374 | 0.9% | 26.85% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 39.2% | 2.87 | 0.1262 | 0.9% | 27.75% |
| K/5 suited | 39.51% | 2.84 | 0.122 | 0.3% | 28.05% |
| J/8 suited | 39.14% | 2.87 | 0.1219 | 0.3% | 28.36% |
| A/4 unsuited | 39.45% | 2.83 | 0.1155 | 0.9% | 29.26% |
| K/8 unsuited | 38.75% | 2.86 | 0.1079 | 0.9% | 30.17% |
| Pair of 4's | 37.42% | 2.95 | 0.1026 | 0.45% | 30.62% |
| T/8 suited | 38.46% | 2.86 | 0.1004 | 0.3% | 30.92% |
| K/4 suited | 38.63% | 2.84 | 0.0956 | 0.3% | 31.22% |
| Q/7 suited | 38.33% | 2.85 | 0.0937 | 0.3% | 31.52% |
| J/9 unsuited | 38.05% | 2.87 | 0.0908 | 0.9% | 32.43% |
| A/3 unsuited | 38.5% | 2.83 | 0.0879 | 0.9% | 33.33% |
| K/7 unsuited | 37.96% | 2.84 | 0.0792 | 0.9% | 34.24% |
| 9/8 suited | 37.74% | 2.86 | 0.079 | 0.3% | 34.54% |
| Q/6 suited | 37.7% | 2.84 | 0.0712 | 0.3% | 34.84% |
| K/3 suited | 37.78% | 2.84 | 0.0712 | 0.3% | 35.14% |
| T/9 unsuited | 37.36% | 2.86 | 0.0692 | 0.9% | 36.05% |
| J/7 suited | 37.21% | 2.85 | 0.0605 | 0.3% | 36.35% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 37.09% | 2.85 | 0.0585 | 0.9% | 37.25% |
| A/2 unsuited | 37.47% | 2.82 | 0.0579 | 0.9% | 38.16% |
| K/6 unsuited | 37% | 2.83 | 0.0469 | 0.9% | 39.06% |
| K/2 suited | 36.91% | 2.83 | 0.0464 | 0.3% | 39.37% |
| Q/5 suited | 36.93% | 2.83 | 0.0455 | 0.3% | 39.67% |
| T/7 suited | 36.51% | 2.85 | 0.0394 | 0.3% | 39.97% |
| J/8 unsuited | 35.94% | 2.85 | 0.0237 | 0.9% | 40.87% |
| 9/7 suited | 35.95% | 2.84 | 0.0223 | 0.3% | 41.18% |
| Q/4 suited | 36.08% | 2.83 | 0.0203 | 0.3% | 41.48% |
| K/5 unsuited | 36.15% | 2.82 | 0.0183 | 0.9% | 42.38% |
| 8/7 suited | 35.65% | 2.84 | 0.0134 | 0.3% | 42.68% |
| Pair of 3's | 34.33% | 2.94 | 0.0087 | 0.45% | 43.14% |
| T/8 unsuited | 35.26% | 2.84 | 0.0026 | 0.9% | 44.04% |
| J/6 suited | 35.33% | 2.83 | 0.0009 | 0.3% | 44.34% |
| Q/3 suited | 35.22% | 2.83 | -0.0042 | 0.3% | 44.65% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 35.01% | 2.83 | -0.0082 | 0.9% | 45.55% |
| K/4 unsuited | 35.19% | 2.81 | -0.0104 | 0.9% | 46.46% |
| J/5 suited | 34.79% | 2.82 | -0.0182 | 0.3% | 46.76% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 34.55% | 2.84 | -0.0185 | 0.9% | 47.66% |
| T/6 suited | 34.64% | 2.83 | -0.0194 | 0.3% | 47.96% |
| Q/2 suited | 34.4% | 2.83 | -0.0279 | 0.3% | 48.27% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 34.33% | 2.82 | -0.0326 | 0.9% | 49.17% |
| 9/6 suited | 34.08% | 2.83 | -0.0357 | 0.3% | 49.47% |
| K/3 unsuited | 34.26% | 2.81 | -0.0374 | 0.9% | 50.38% |
| 8/6 suited | 33.88% | 2.83 | -0.0416 | 0.3% | 50.68% |
| J/7 unsuited | 33.86% | 2.83 | -0.0422 | 0.9% | 51.58% |
| 7/6 suited | 33.85% | 2.83 | -0.0424 | 0.3% | 51.89% |
| J/4 suited | 33.95% | 2.82 | -0.043 | 0.3% | 52.19% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 33.48% | 2.81 | -0.0607 | 0.9% | 53.09% |
| T/7 unsuited | 33.19% | 2.82 | -0.0626 | 0.9% | 54% |
| K/2 unsuited | 33.34% | 2.81 | -0.0642 | 0.9% | 54.9% |
| J/3 suited | 33.14% | 2.82 | -0.0659 | 0.3% | 55.2% |
| T/5 suited | 32.81% | 2.81 | -0.0768 | 0.3% | 55.51% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 32.6% | 2.82 | -0.0799 | 0.9% | 56.41% |
| Pair of 2's | 31.4% | 2.93 | -0.0804 | 0.45% | 56.86% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 32.33% | 2.82 | -0.0881 | 0.9% | 57.77% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 32.55% | 2.8 | -0.0886 | 0.9% | 58.67% |
| J/2 suited | 32.33% | 2.82 | -0.0891 | 0.3% | 58.97% |
| 6/5 suited | 32.21% | 2.82 | -0.0923 | 0.3% | 59.28% |
| 9/5 suited | 32.24% | 2.81 | -0.0927 | 0.3% | 59.58% |
| T/4 suited | 32.22% | 2.81 | -0.0945 | 0.3% | 59.88% |
| 7/5 suited | 32.1% | 2.82 | -0.0962 | 0.3% | 60.18% |
| 8/5 suited | 32.06% | 2.81 | -0.0979 | 0.3% | 60.48% |
| J/6 unsuited | 31.85% | 2.81 | -0.106 | 0.9% | 61.39% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 31.63% | 2.8 | -0.115 | 0.9% | 62.29% |
| T/3 suited | 31.42% | 2.81 | -0.1172 | 0.3% | 62.59% |
| T/6 unsuited | 31.16% | 2.8 | -0.1262 | 0.9% | 63.5% |
| J/5 unsuited | 31.26% | 2.79 | -0.1268 | 0.9% | 64.4% |
| 5/4 suited | 30.98% | 2.81 | -0.1295 | 0.3% | 64.71% |
| T/2 suited | 30.6% | 2.81 | -0.1405 | 0.3% | 65.01% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 30.72% | 2.8 | -0.1413 | 0.9% | 65.91% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 30.61% | 2.8 | -0.1421 | 0.9% | 66.82% |
| 6/4 suited | 30.42% | 2.81 | -0.1453 | 0.3% | 67.12% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 30.43% | 2.8 | -0.1473 | 0.9% | 68.02% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 30.41% | 2.8 | -0.1477 | 0.9% | 68.93% |
| 9/4 suited | 30.35% | 2.8 | -0.1492 | 0.3% | 69.23% |
| 7/4 suited | 30.21% | 2.81 | -0.1522 | 0.3% | 69.53% |
| J/4 unsuited | 30.35% | 2.79 | -0.1538 | 0.9% | 70.44% |
| 8/4 suited | 30.16% | 2.8 | -0.1542 | 0.3% | 70.74% |
| 9/3 suited | 29.78% | 2.8 | -0.1654 | 0.3% | 71.04% |
| J/3 unsuited | 29.44% | 2.79 | -0.1798 | 0.9% | 71.95% |
| 5/3 suited | 29.18% | 2.8 | -0.1821 | 0.3% | 72.25% |
| T/5 unsuited | 29.21% | 2.78 | -0.1872 | 0.9% | 73.15% |
| 9/2 suited | 28.98% | 2.8 | -0.1883 | 0.3% | 73.45% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 28.7% | 2.79 | -0.1998 | 0.9% | 74.36% |
| 6/3 suited | 28.55% | 2.8 | -0.2002 | 0.3% | 74.66% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 28.63% | 2.78 | -0.2035 | 0.9% | 75.57% |
| J/2 unsuited | 28.56% | 2.78 | -0.2052 | 0.9% | 76.47% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 28.54% | 2.78 | -0.2053 | 0.9% | 77.38% |
| T/4 unsuited | 28.55% | 2.78 | -0.2072 | 0.9% | 78.28% |
| 4/3 suited | 28.28% | 2.8 | -0.2074 | 0.3% | 78.58% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 28.47% | 2.78 | -0.2078 | 0.9% | 79.49% |
| 7/3 suited | 28.3% | 2.8 | -0.2082 | 0.3% | 79.79% |
| 8/3 suited | 28.28% | 2.8 | -0.2093 | 0.3% | 80.09% |
| 8/2 suited | 27.73% | 2.79 | -0.2253 | 0.3% | 80.39% |
| T/3 unsuited | 27.68% | 2.77 | -0.2324 | 0.9% | 81.3% |
| 5/2 suited | 27.3% | 2.79 | -0.2371 | 0.3% | 81.6% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 27.37% | 2.78 | -0.2401 | 0.9% | 82.5% |
| 6/2 suited | 26.65% | 2.79 | -0.2559 | 0.3% | 82.81% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 26.76% | 2.77 | -0.2576 | 0.9% | 83.71% |
| T/2 unsuited | 26.79% | 2.77 | -0.2578 | 0.9% | 84.62% |
| 4/2 suited | 26.49% | 2.79 | -0.2599 | 0.3% | 84.92% |
| 7/2 suited | 26.44% | 2.79 | -0.2628 | 0.3% | 85.22% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 26.59% | 2.77 | -0.2644 | 0.9% | 86.12% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 26.51% | 2.77 | -0.2657 | 0.9% | 87.03% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 26.42% | 2.77 | -0.2687 | 0.9% | 87.93% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 25.97% | 2.76 | -0.2825 | 0.9% | 88.84% |
| 3/2 suited | 25.61% | 2.79 | -0.285 | 0.3% | 89.14% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 25.46% | 2.76 | -0.2961 | 0.9% | 90.05% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 25.1% | 2.76 | -0.3073 | 0.9% | 90.95% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 24.74% | 2.76 | -0.3168 | 0.9% | 91.86% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 24.49% | 2.76 | -0.3238 | 0.9% | 92.76% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 24.47% | 2.76 | -0.3256 | 0.9% | 93.67% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 24.4% | 2.75 | -0.3285 | 0.9% | 94.57% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 23.79% | 2.75 | -0.3462 | 0.9% | 95.48% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 23.43% | 2.75 | -0.3558 | 0.9% | 96.38% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 22.69% | 2.75 | -0.3769 | 0.9% | 97.29% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 22.56% | 2.75 | -0.3801 | 0.9% | 98.19% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 22.44% | 2.74 | -0.3854 | 0.9% | 99.1% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 21.61% | 2.74 | -0.4072 | 0.9% | 100% |
| Total | 2.84 | 100% |
Methodology:
This table is the result of a random simulation of 68,612,544,000 games and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 3-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.
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