This grid compares the strength of a particular Texas hold'em hand (in this case ) against all other hands. Each square represents a pair of opponent cards, and the color represents the relative strength of these two hands — the redder the square, the more likely the opponent hand is to win. These probabilities were computed by enumerating all ≈1.3 trillion hands of heads-up Texas hold'em.

The average color in the above panel is a single number summarizing the strength of a hand averaged over all opponent hands. Computing this for all hand combinations produces the panel on the left. If you like thinking about the first panel as a 2D slice through a 4D cube, then this second panel is a projection of the 4D cube into 2D. 1.8 Preflop Texas Hold’em Odds; 1.9 Odds of connecting with the Flop in Hold’em; 1.10 Odds On the Flop in Texas Hold’em. 1.10.1 Outs; 1.10.2 Straight and Flush Draw Odds; 1.10.3 On the flop, when you have: 1.11 Odds of hitting a hand by the river from the flop. 1.11.1 On the flop, when you have: 1.12 All-in One-on-One in Texas Hold’em. 2-7 (offsuit) A 2-7 offsuit hand is the worst hand to start with in Texas Hold 'Em poker because there are so few good options available to you: you have no straight draw, no flush draw, and even if you wind up with a pair of 7s or a pair of 2s, you're unlikely to have the best hand. Of course, you'll see some crazy flops every now and then, but just because you see a rare 7-7-2 flop once in a.

Navigating the Grid

Opponent pair cards are organized along the main diagonal, in a band of 4x4 boxes. Opponent suited cards lie along other diagonals. The dark squares correspond to impossible hands, where a card is duplicated.

Tidbits

If you are holding a pair, an opponent holding any higher pair has essentially the same advantage over you, regardless of the rank of the pair. In fact, compared to (say) a pair of 6s, a pair of 7s is slightly better than a pair of Aces.

While a pair of Aces is the strongest hand averaged over all opponent hands, the single strongest heads-up face-off is a pair of Kings vs a K+2 offsuit.

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.

Average Hand In Texas Holdem Tournaments

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.

Inside Links

Average Hand In Texas Holdem Rules

Written by: Michael Shackleford