Texas Hold'em Poker Starting Hands Ranking
admin 4/9/2022
Trashy – Hands like Q5o, J6o, 52o and 84o are among the weakest starting hands in Texas Hold’em and should never be played as a raise first in. The majority of Texas Hold’em starting hands are in this category, so it’s important to get into the habit of only selecting appropriate hands. Texas Holdem is a Poker game in which players with fully or partially-concealed cards make wagers into a communal pot during the course of a hand, after which the pot is awarded to the player or players with the best combination of cards.
Introduction
Texas Holdem Poker Hand Ranking
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.
Texas Hold'em Poker Starting Hands Rankings
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Written by: Michael Shackleford