- Texas Hold Em Starting Hands
- Texas Hold Em Hand Strength
- Texas Holdem Starting Hand Percentages
- Texas Holdem Hand Chart
- Texas Holdem Starting Hands Probability
- Texas Holdem Hand Strength Chart
Texas Hold'em Starting Hands This article discusses starting hand charts for advanced No-Limit Texas Hold'em Poker players. Any experienced poker player knows that a starting hand chart is just a 'reference'. As a skilled player, you understand that the way you play preflop depends on a number of factors. Starting Hand Selection. By Greg Walker. Starting Hand Selection: Chen Formula: Sklansky Starting Hand Groups In Texas Holdem, it is important to have good starting hand selection.This is important as it prevents you from entering pots with sub-standard hands, which could eventually lead to you losing a lot of money in the process.
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Introduction
The following table ranks the top hands in a 6-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.
Texas Hold Em Starting Hands
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 6 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
- Expected value: This is how many units the player can expect 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 $1.95.
- 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 6-Player Game
Texas Hold Em Hand Strength
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
| Pair of A's | 49.51% | 5.96 | 1.9508 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 43.32% | 5.95 | 1.5775 | 0.45% | 0.90% |
| Pair of Q's | 38.3% | 5.93 | 1.2729 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| Pair of J's | 34.05% | 5.92 | 1.0142 | 0.45% | 1.81% |
| A/K suited | 32.15% | 5.8 | 0.8641 | 0.30% | 2.11% |
| Pair of T's | 30.44% | 5.89 | 0.7944 | 0.45% | 2.56% |
| A/Q suited | 30.56% | 5.76 | 0.7589 | 0.30% | 2.87% |
| K/Q suited | 29.55% | 5.76 | 0.7015 | 0.30% | 3.17% |
| A/J suited | 29.28% | 5.71 | 0.6723 | 0.30% | 3.47% |
| A/K unsuited | 28.96% | 5.77 | 0.6704 | 0.90% | 4.37% |
| K/J suited | 28.28% | 5.72 | 0.6167 | 0.30% | 4.68% |
| A/T suited | 28.27% | 5.67 | 0.6021 | 0.30% | 4.98% |
| Pair of 9's | 27.11% | 5.89 | 0.5978 | 0.45% | 5.43% |
| Q/J suited | 27.57% | 5.71 | 0.5737 | 0.30% | 5.73% |
| A/Q unsuited | 27.21% | 5.71 | 0.555 | 0.90% | 6.64% |
| K/T suited | 27.32% | 5.68 | 0.5506 | 0.30% | 6.94% |
| Q/T suited | 26.64% | 5.67 | 0.5101 | 0.30% | 7.24% |
| K/Q unsuited | 26.28% | 5.72 | 0.5028 | 0.90% | 8.14% |
| J/T suited | 26.33% | 5.66 | 0.4904 | 0.30% | 8.45% |
| A/J unsuited | 25.79% | 5.66 | 0.4597 | 0.90% | 9.35% |
| A/9 suited | 25.75% | 5.62 | 0.4474 | 0.30% | 9.65% |
| Pair of 8's | 24.51% | 5.88 | 0.4416 | 0.45% | 10.11% |
| K/J unsuited | 24.88% | 5.67 | 0.4097 | 0.90% | 11.01% |
| K/9 suited | 24.73% | 5.64 | 0.3946 | 0.30% | 11.31% |
| A/8 suited | 24.98% | 5.58 | 0.3933 | 0.30% | 11.61% |
| A/T unsuited | 24.66% | 5.6 | 0.3817 | 0.90% | 12.52% |
| Q/J unsuited | 24.26% | 5.66 | 0.3721 | 0.90% | 13.42% |
| Q/9 suited | 24.07% | 5.64 | 0.3565 | 0.30% | 13.73% |
| A/7 suited | 24.27% | 5.54 | 0.3444 | 0.30% | 14.03% |
| T/9 suited | 23.9% | 5.62 | 0.3432 | 0.30% | 14.33% |
| J/9 suited | 23.82% | 5.63 | 0.3408 | 0.30% | 14.63% |
| K/T unsuited | 23.8% | 5.61 | 0.3356 | 0.90% | 15.54% |
| A/5 suited | 24.19% | 5.5 | 0.3309 | 0.30% | 15.84% |
| Pair of 7's | 22.35% | 5.87 | 0.3116 | 0.45% | 16.29% |
| Q/T unsuited | 23.2% | 5.61 | 0.3006 | 0.90% | 17.19% |
| A/4 suited | 23.63% | 5.5 | 0.3002 | 0.30% | 17.5% |
| A/6 suited | 23.5% | 5.51 | 0.2954 | 0.30% | 17.8% |
| J/T unsuited | 23.03% | 5.6 | 0.2895 | 0.90% | 18.7% |
| K/8 suited | 22.97% | 5.58 | 0.283 | 0.30% | 19% |
| A/3 suited | 23.05% | 5.51 | 0.2705 | 0.30% | 19.31% |
| Q/8 suited | 22.24% | 5.59 | 0.2436 | 0.30% | 19.61% |
| K/7 suited | 22.37% | 5.55 | 0.2406 | 0.30% | 19.91% |
| A/2 suited | 22.39% | 5.52 | 0.2357 | 0.30% | 20.21% |
| T/8 suited | 22.12% | 5.58 | 0.2345 | 0.30% | 20.51% |
| J/8 suited | 22.01% | 5.59 | 0.2298 | 0.30% | 20.81% |
| 9/8 suited | 21.72% | 5.6 | 0.2165 | 0.30% | 21.12% |
| A/9 unsuited | 21.93% | 5.53 | 0.2136 | 0.90% | 22.02% |
| Pair of 6's | 20.59% | 5.85 | 0.2054 | 0.45% | 22.47% |
| K/6 suited | 21.75% | 5.52 | 0.1996 | 0.30% | 22.78% |
| K/5 suited | 21.29% | 5.49 | 0.1692 | 0.30% | 23.08% |
| K/9 unsuited | 20.98% | 5.56 | 0.1659 | 0.90% | 23.98% |
| A/8 unsuited | 21.07% | 5.47 | 0.1533 | 0.90% | 24.89% |
| Q/7 suited | 20.65% | 5.54 | 0.1434 | 0.30% | 25.19% |
| K/4 suited | 20.75% | 5.5 | 0.1406 | 0.30% | 25.49% |
| 8/7 suited | 20.39% | 5.57 | 0.1367 | 0.30% | 25.79% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 20.41% | 5.55 | 0.1334 | 0.90% | 26.7% |
| T/7 suited | 20.46% | 5.54 | 0.1333 | 0.30% | 27% |
| T/9 unsuited | 20.44% | 5.54 | 0.1322 | 0.90% | 27.9% |
| 9/7 suited | 20.30% | 5.57 | 0.1299 | 0.30% | 28.21% |
| J/7 suited | 20.38% | 5.54 | 0.1293 | 0.30% | 28.51% |
| J/9 unsuited | 20.28% | 5.55 | 0.1248 | 0.90% | 29.41% |
| K/3 suited | 20.25% | 5.51 | 0.1154 | 0.30% | 29.71% |
| Pair of 5's | 19.05% | 5.84 | 0.1118 | 0.45% | 30.17% |
| Q/6 suited | 20.19% | 5.5 | 0.1109 | 0.30% | 30.47% |
| A/7 unsuited | 20.25% | 5.42 | 0.0981 | 0.90% | 31.37% |
| K/2 suited | 19.76% | 5.52 | 0.0909 | 0.30% | 31.67% |
| A/5 unsuited | 20.15% | 5.37 | 0.083 | 0.90% | 32.58% |
| Q/5 suited | 19.72% | 5.48 | 0.0806 | 0.30% | 32.88% |
| 7/6 suited | 19.31% | 5.56 | 0.0736 | 0.30% | 33.18% |
| 8/6 suited | 19.11% | 5.54 | 0.059 | 0.30% | 33.48% |
| Q/4 suited | 19.22% | 5.49 | 0.0547 | 0.30% | 33.79% |
| A/4 unsuited | 19.51% | 5.37 | 0.0484 | 0.90% | 34.69% |
| A/6 unsuited | 19.43% | 5.38 | 0.0458 | 0.90% | 35.6% |
| K/8 unsuited | 19.04% | 5.48 | 0.043 | 0.90% | 36.5% |
| T/6 suited | 18.95% | 5.49 | 0.0407 | 0.30% | 36.8% |
| 9/6 suited | 18.82% | 5.53 | 0.0402 | 0.30% | 37.1% |
| J/6 suited | 18.92% | 5.49 | 0.038 | 0.30% | 37.41% |
| Pair of 4's | 17.76% | 5.84 | 0.0369 | 0.45% | 37.86% |
| Q/3 suited | 18.69% | 5.5 | 0.0281 | 0.30% | 38.16% |
| 6/5 suited | 18.45% | 5.55 | 0.0233 | 0.30% | 38.46% |
| A/3 unsuited | 18.87% | 5.38 | 0.0148 | 0.90% | 39.37% |
| T/8 unsuited | 18.5% | 5.48 | 0.0138 | 0.90% | 40.27% |
| J/5 suited | 18.56% | 5.46 | 0.0131 | 0.30% | 40.57% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 18.43% | 5.48 | 0.0104 | 0.90% | 41.48% |
| Q/2 suited | 18.25% | 5.52 | 0.0063 | 0.30% | 41.78% |
| J/8 unsuited | 18.31% | 5.48 | 0.004 | 0.90% | 42.68% |
| 7/5 suited | 18.1% | 5.53 | 0.0007 | 0.30% | 42.99% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 18.14% | 5.5 | -0.0013 | 0.90% | 43.89% |
| K/7 unsuited | 18.38% | 5.42 | -0.0036 | 0.90% | 44.8% |
| 5/4 suited | 17.82% | 5.54 | -0.0125 | 0.30% | 45.1% |
| J/4 suited | 18.03% | 5.47 | -0.0139 | 0.30% | 45.4% |
| A/2 unsuited | 18.15% | 5.38 | -0.0235 | 0.90% | 46.3% |
| 8/5 suited | 17.73% | 5.5 | -0.0244 | 0.30% | 46.61% |
| Pair of 3's | 16.69% | 5.85 | -0.0245 | 0.45% | 47.06% |
| J/3 suited | 17.57% | 5.48 | -0.0365 | 0.30% | 47.36% |
| T/5 suited | 17.62% | 5.44 | -0.041 | 0.30% | 47.66% |
| 9/5 suited | 17.41% | 5.48 | -0.0458 | 0.30% | 47.96% |
| K/6 unsuited | 17.72% | 5.38 | -0.047 | 0.90% | 48.87% |
| 6/4 suited | 17.17% | 5.54 | -0.0484 | 0.30% | 49.17% |
| J/2 suited | 17.11% | 5.5 | -0.0589 | 0.30% | 49.47% |
| T/4 suited | 17.19% | 5.44 | -0.0643 | 0.30% | 49.77% |
| Pair of 2's | 15.87% | 5.85 | -0.0708 | 0.45% | 50.23% |
| 7/4 suited | 16.66% | 5.52 | -0.0809 | 0.30% | 50.53% |
| 5/3 suited | 16.59% | 5.54 | -0.081 | 0.30% | 50.83% |
| K/5 unsuited | 17.18% | 5.34 | -0.0829 | 0.90% | 51.73% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 16.76% | 5.47 | -0.0841 | 0.90% | 52.64% |
| T/3 suited | 16.72% | 5.46 | -0.0871 | 0.30% | 52.94% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 16.61% | 5.45 | -0.0953 | 0.90% | 53.85% |
| T/7 unsuited | 16.71% | 5.41 | -0.0962 | 0.90% | 54.75% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 16.7% | 5.4 | -0.098 | 0.90% | 55.66% |
| J/7 unsuited | 16.51% | 5.41 | -0.1073 | 0.90% | 56.56% |
| 8/4 suited | 16.25% | 5.49 | -0.1085 | 0.30% | 56.86% |
| T/2 suited | 16.27% | 5.48 | -0.1089 | 0.30% | 57.16% |
| K/4 unsuited | 16.59% | 5.34 | -0.114 | 0.90% | 58.07% |
| 4/3 suited | 15.9% | 5.56 | -0.1162 | 0.30% | 58.37% |
| 9/4 suited | 16.05% | 5.46 | -0.1237 | 0.30% | 58.67% |
| 6/3 suited | 15.77% | 5.54 | -0.127 | 0.30% | 58.97% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 16.17% | 5.35 | -0.135 | 0.90% | 59.88% |
| K/3 unsuited | 16.03% | 5.35 | -0.142 | 0.90% | 60.78% |
| 9/3 suited | 15.67% | 5.47 | -0.143 | 0.30% | 61.09% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 15.62% | 5.43 | -0.1512 | 0.90% | 61.99% |
| 5/2 suited | 15.19% | 5.53 | -0.1593 | 0.30% | 62.29% |
| 7/3 suited | 15.25% | 5.51 | -0.1605 | 0.30% | 62.59% |
| 9/2 suited | 15.22% | 5.49 | -0.1644 | 0.30% | 62.9% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 15.66% | 5.31 | -0.1685 | 0.90% | 63.8% |
| K/2 unsuited | 15.49% | 5.36 | -0.1695 | 0.90% | 64.71% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 15.35% | 5.41 | -0.1698 | 0.90% | 65.61% |
| 8/3 suited | 14.94% | 5.47 | -0.1832 | 0.30% | 65.91% |
| 4/2 suited | 14.68% | 5.56 | -0.1836 | 0.30% | 66.21% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 15% | 5.38 | -0.193 | 0.90% | 67.12% |
| T/6 unsuited | 15.06% | 5.33 | -0.1972 | 0.90% | 68.02% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 15.08% | 5.31 | -0.1987 | 0.90% | 68.93% |
| 8/2 suited | 14.58% | 5.49 | -0.2 | 0.30% | 69.23% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 14.71% | 5.41 | -0.2045 | 0.90% | 70.14% |
| J/6 unsuited | 14.94% | 5.32 | -0.2053 | 0.90% | 71.04% |
| 6/2 suited | 14.37% | 5.53 | -0.2056 | 0.30% | 71.34% |
| 3/2 suited | 14.02% | 5.58 | -0.2171 | 0.30% | 71.64% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 14.52% | 5.33 | -0.2267 | 0.90% | 72.55% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 14.34% | 5.38 | -0.2289 | 0.90% | 73.45% |
| 7/2 suited | 13.97% | 5.49 | -0.2331 | 0.30% | 73.76% |
| J/5 unsuited | 14.53% | 5.27 | -0.2339 | 0.90% | 74.66% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 14.05% | 5.39 | -0.2418 | 0.90% | 75.57% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 14% | 5.34 | -0.2523 | 0.90% | 76.47% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 13.87% | 5.34 | -0.2595 | 0.90% | 77.38% |
| J/4 unsuited | 13.96% | 5.28 | -0.2632 | 0.90% | 78.28% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 13.34% | 5.39 | -0.2814 | 0.90% | 79.19% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 13.48% | 5.3 | -0.2859 | 0.90% | 80.09% |
| T/5 unsuited | 13.63% | 5.24 | -0.2859 | 0.90% | 81% |
| J/3 unsuited | 13.42% | 5.29 | -0.2898 | 0.90% | 81.9% |
| T/4 unsuited | 13.16% | 5.23 | -0.3113 | 0.90% | 82.81% |
| J/2 unsuited | 12.92% | 5.3 | -0.3147 | 0.90% | 83.71% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 12.71% | 5.38 | -0.3167 | 0.90% | 84.62% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 12.78% | 5.34 | -0.3175 | 0.90% | 85.52% |
| T/3 unsuited | 12.62% | 5.25 | -0.3377 | 0.90% | 86.43% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 12.29% | 5.29 | -0.35 | 0.90% | 87.33% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 11.99% | 5.39 | -0.3537 | 0.90% | 88.24% |
| T/2 unsuited | 12.12% | 5.26 | -0.3623 | 0.90% | 89.14% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 11.82% | 5.35 | -0.3672 | 0.90% | 90.05% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 12.01% | 5.24 | -0.371 | 0.90% | 90.95% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 11.58% | 5.25 | -0.3927 | 0.90% | 91.86% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 11.23% | 5.34 | -0.3998 | 0.90% | 92.76% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 11.24% | 5.3 | -0.4046 | 0.90% | 93.67% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 11.08% | 5.26 | -0.417 | 0.90% | 94.57% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 10.67% | 5.37 | -0.4267 | 0.90% | 95.48% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 10.86% | 5.23 | -0.4314 | 0.90% | 96.38% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 10.32% | 5.31 | -0.4519 | 0.90% | 97.29% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 10.45% | 5.24 | -0.4522 | 0.90% | 98.19% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 9.98% | 5.39 | -0.462 | 0.90% | 99.1% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 9.87% | 5.24 | -0.4833 | 0.90% | 100% |
| Total | 18.14% | 5.51 | 0 | 100% | 0% |
Top 20% of Hands in 6-Player Game
- Pair of sevens or higher.
- Suited A/7 or higher.
- Suited A/5.
- Any two suited cards both 9 or higher.
- Unsuited A/T or higher.
- Unsuited K/T or higher.
- Unsuited Q/J.
Methodology
Texas Holdem Starting Hand Percentages
This table is the result of a random simulation and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.
Texas Holdem Hand Chart
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 6-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 Holdem Starting Hands Probability
Inside Links
Texas Holdem Hand Strength Chart
Written by: Michael Shackleford