Introduction

The following table ranks the top hands in an 8-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.

1. At the bottom of this page is a comprehensive listing of Texas Hold'em starting hands based on their EV (expected value). Expected value is the average number of big blinds this hand will make or lose. For example: AA from the Small Blind in a $3/$6 game will make, on average, 2.71 times the big blind, or $16.20 per hand (2.71. $6).
2. Charts ranking the 169 different starting hands in Texas hold'em can be very intriguing, but it's important to remember they are of limited value.

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 8 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 $2.09.
• 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 8-Player Game

Eight-Player Power Ratings in Texas Hold ’Em Introduction. The following table ranks the top hands in an 8-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. Now, let's talk about starting hands in Texas Hold'em. Ranking The Top 20 No Limit Texas Hold’em Starting Hands. I wanted to include something a bit more exciting in this article, so here's the top 20 No Limit Hold'em starting hands in terms of raw all-in equity (or percentages).

Texas Holdem Rank Of Hands

Cards	Probability of Win	Average Win	Expected Value	Probability	Additive Probability
Pair of A's	39.05%	7.94	2.099	0.45%	0.45%
Pair of K's	33.26%	7.92	1.6328	0.45%	0.9%
Pair of Q's	28.71%	7.88	1.2628	0.45%	1.36%
A/K suited	26%	7.67	0.9953	0.3%	1.66%
Pair of J's	25.13%	7.84	0.9705	0.45%	2.11%
A/Q suited	24.51%	7.6	0.8628	0.3%	2.41%
K/Q suited	23.72%	7.61	0.8043	0.3%	2.71%
A/J suited	23.41%	7.53	0.7616	0.3%	3.02%
Pair of T's	22.32%	7.79	0.7395	0.45%	3.47%
A/K unsuited	22.68%	7.61	0.7264	0.9%	4.37%
K/J suited	22.66%	7.53	0.7073	0.3%	4.68%
A/T suited	22.55%	7.45	0.6803	0.3%	4.98%
Q/J suited	22.1%	7.52	0.6622	0.3%	5.28%
K/T suited	21.87%	7.47	0.633	0.3%	5.58%
Q/T suited	21.38%	7.45	0.5936	0.3%	5.88%
J/T suited	21.26%	7.44	0.5813	0.3%	6.18%
A/Q unsuited	20.98%	7.51	0.5765	0.9%	7.09%
Pair of 9's	19.89%	7.81	0.5527	0.45%	7.54%
K/Q unsuited	20.31%	7.52	0.5281	0.9%	8.45%
A/9 suited	20.28%	7.39	0.4981	0.3%	8.75%
A/J unsuited	19.7%	7.41	0.4607	0.9%	9.65%
K/9 suited	19.5%	7.42	0.4466	0.3%	9.95%
A/8 suited	19.66%	7.32	0.4386	0.3%	10.26%
K/J unsuited	19.1%	7.43	0.4183	0.9%	11.16%
Pair of 8's	18.19%	7.79	0.4164	0.45%	11.61%
T/9 suited	19.18%	7.38	0.4162	0.3%	11.92%
Q/9 suited	19.03%	7.41	0.4107	0.3%	12.22%
J/9 suited	18.96%	7.4	0.4032	0.3%	12.52%
A/5 suited	19.29%	7.21	0.3914	0.3%	12.82%
A/7 suited	19.12%	7.26	0.3883	0.3%	13.12%
Q/J unsuited	18.67%	7.41	0.3832	0.9%	14.03%
A/T unsuited	18.74%	7.31	0.3705	0.9%	14.93%
A/4 suited	18.86%	7.23	0.3638	0.3%	15.23%
A/6 suited	18.62%	7.22	0.3448	0.3%	15.54%
A/3 suited	18.41%	7.26	0.336	0.3%	15.84%
K/T unsuited	18.18%	7.33	0.3328	0.9%	16.74%
K/8 suited	18.05%	7.33	0.3234	0.3%	17.04%
Pair of 7's	16.85%	7.77	0.309	0.45%	17.5%
Q/T unsuited	17.83%	7.32	0.3044	0.9%	18.4%
J/T unsuited	17.86%	7.3	0.3041	0.9%	19.31%
A/2 suited	17.86%	7.28	0.2997	0.3%	19.61%
T/8 suited	17.68%	7.32	0.2949	0.3%	19.91%
Q/8 suited	17.51%	7.34	0.285	0.3%	20.21%
J/8 suited	17.44%	7.33	0.2792	0.3%	20.51%
K/7 suited	17.57%	7.27	0.2777	0.3%	20.81%
9/8 suited	17.31%	7.38	0.2768	0.3%	21.12%
K/6 suited	17.17%	7.23	0.2413	0.3%	21.42%
Pair of 6's	15.84%	7.75	0.2282	0.45%	21.87%
K/5 suited	16.83%	7.2	0.2117	0.3%	22.17%
8/7 suited	16.38%	7.35	0.2033	0.3%	22.47%
K/4 suited	16.44%	7.22	0.1869	0.3%	22.78%
9/7 suited	16.2%	7.33	0.1868	0.3%	23.08%
T/7 suited	16.3%	7.26	0.1827	0.3%	23.38%
Q/7 suited	16.22%	7.25	0.1756	0.3%	23.68%
A/9 unsuited	16.27%	7.2	0.1711	0.9%	24.59%
J/7 suited	16.07%	7.26	0.1662	0.3%	24.89%
K/3 suited	16.06%	7.26	0.1653	0.3%	25.19%
Pair of 5's	14.93%	7.73	0.1542	0.45%	25.64%
7/6 suited	15.66%	7.33	0.1481	0.3%	25.94%
K/2 suited	15.7%	7.29	0.1446	0.3%	26.24%
Q/6 suited	15.85%	7.2	0.1417	0.3%	26.55%
T/9 unsuited	15.71%	7.21	0.1332	0.9%	27.45%
K/9 unsuited	15.62%	7.24	0.1308	0.9%	28.36%
8/6 suited	15.37%	7.3	0.1223	0.3%	28.66%
Q/5 suited	15.56%	7.17	0.1158	0.3%	28.96%
Pair of 4's	14.31%	7.76	0.1103	0.45%	29.41%
J/9 unsuited	15.34%	7.22	0.1081	0.9%	30.32%
6/5 suited	15.12%	7.32	0.1067	0.3%	30.62%
Q/9 unsuited	15.27%	7.23	0.1044	0.9%	31.52%
A/8 unsuited	15.55%	7.1	0.1037	0.9%	32.43%
Q/4 suited	15.16%	7.2	0.0916	0.3%	32.73%
9/6 suited	14.99%	7.26	0.0891	0.3%	33.03%
5/4 suited	14.74%	7.32	0.0789	0.3%	33.33%
T/6 suited	15.03%	7.18	0.0785	0.3%	33.63%
Pair of 3's	13.83%	7.8	0.0782	0.45%	34.09%
7/5 suited	14.74%	7.29	0.0741	0.3%	34.39%
Q/3 suited	14.81%	7.24	0.0721	0.3%	34.69%
J/6 suited	14.92%	7.17	0.0691	0.3%	34.99%
Pair of 2's	13.49%	7.83	0.057	0.45%	35.44%
Q/2 suited	14.46%	7.28	0.0524	0.3%	35.75%
A/5 unsuited	15.1%	6.95	0.0489	0.9%	36.65%
A/7 unsuited	14.94%	7.01	0.0473	0.9%	37.56%
J/5 suited	14.66%	7.13	0.0454	0.3%	37.86%
6/4 suited	14.07%	7.33	0.0306	0.3%	38.16%
8/5 suited	14.22%	7.24	0.0303	0.3%	38.46%
J/4 suited	14.28%	7.16	0.0222	0.3%	38.76%
A/4 unsuited	14.63%	6.96	0.0184	0.9%	39.67%
5/3 suited	13.71%	7.33	0.0049	0.3%	39.97%
J/3 suited	13.92%	7.2	0.0023	0.3%	40.27%
A/6 unsuited	14.39%	6.95	0	0.9%	41.18%
T/8 unsuited	14.07%	7.11	-0.0002	0.9%	42.08%
K/8 unsuited	14.01%	7.09	-0.0059	0.9%	42.99%
9/5 suited	13.81%	7.19	-0.0066	0.3%	43.29%
T/5 suited	13.98%	7.09	-0.0092	0.3%	43.59%
A/3 unsuited	14.15%	6.99	-0.0111	0.9%	44.49%
9/8 unsuited	13.73%	7.18	-0.0137	0.9%	45.4%
J/2 suited	13.59%	7.24	-0.0154	0.3%	45.7%
7/4 suited	13.48%	7.28	-0.0187	0.3%	46%
J/8 unsuited	13.68%	7.11	-0.0278	0.9%	46.91%
T/4 suited	13.64%	7.11	-0.0304	0.3%	47.21%
Q/8 unsuited	13.6%	7.11	-0.0331	0.9%	48.11%
4/3 suited	13.09%	7.37	-0.0351	0.3%	48.42%
T/3 suited	13.3%	7.15	-0.049	0.3%	48.72%
A/2 unsuited	13.54%	7.01	-0.0507	0.9%	49.62%
K/7 unsuited	13.48%	7	-0.0557	0.9%	50.53%
6/3 suited	12.85%	7.33	-0.0587	0.3%	50.83%
8/4 suited	12.98%	7.22	-0.0626	0.3%	51.13%
T/2 suited	12.95%	7.19	-0.0682	0.3%	51.43%
5/2 suited	12.5%	7.33	-0.0839	0.3%	51.73%
8/7 unsuited	12.79%	7.13	-0.0877	0.9%	52.64%
9/4 suited	12.71%	7.16	-0.0908	0.3%	52.94%
K/6 unsuited	13.02%	6.94	-0.0972	0.9%	53.85%
4/2 suited	12.08%	7.38	-0.1079	0.3%	54.15%
7/3 suited	12.25%	7.27	-0.1101	0.3%	54.45%
9/3 suited	12.37%	7.19	-0.1108	0.3%	54.75%
9/7 unsuited	12.54%	7.09	-0.1114	0.9%	55.66%
T/7 unsuited	12.55%	6.98	-0.1238	0.9%	56.56%
9/2 suited	12.03%	7.24	-0.1287	0.3%	56.86%
K/5 unsuited	12.65%	6.88	-0.1298	0.9%	57.77%
7/6 unsuited	12.08%	7.09	-0.1433	0.9%	58.67%
8/3 suited	11.88%	7.19	-0.1452	0.3%	58.97%
3/2 suited	11.49%	7.43	-0.1454	0.3%	59.28%
6/2 suited	11.62%	7.32	-0.1492	0.3%	59.58%
Q/7 unsuited	12.22%	6.95	-0.1511	0.9%	60.48%
J/7 unsuited	12.18%	6.97	-0.1514	0.9%	61.39%
K/4 unsuited	12.21%	6.9	-0.1579	0.9%	62.29%
8/2 suited	11.57%	7.23	-0.163	0.3%	62.59%
8/6 unsuited	11.7%	7.04	-0.1767	0.9%	63.5%
K/3 unsuited	11.79%	6.94	-0.1818	0.9%	64.4%
6/5 unsuited	11.51%	7.07	-0.1865	0.9%	65.31%
Q/6 unsuited	11.81%	6.87	-0.189	0.9%	66.21%
7/2 suited	11.19%	7.24	-0.1897	0.3%	66.52%
K/2 unsuited	11.41%	6.98	-0.2035	0.9%	67.42%
5/4 unsuited	11.12%	7.06	-0.2149	0.9%	68.33%
9/6 unsuited	11.22%	6.97	-0.2182	0.9%	69.23%
Q/5 unsuited	11.46%	6.82	-0.2191	0.9%	70.14%
7/5 unsuited	11.07%	7	-0.2249	0.9%	71.04%
T/6 unsuited	11.18%	6.83	-0.2361	0.9%	71.95%
Q/4 unsuited	11.03%	6.84	-0.2454	0.9%	72.85%
J/6 unsuited	10.94%	6.8	-0.2562	0.9%	73.76%
6/4 unsuited	10.39%	7.05	-0.2677	0.9%	74.66%
Q/3 unsuited	10.63%	6.88	-0.2679	0.9%	75.57%
8/5 unsuited	10.47%	6.92	-0.2757	0.9%	76.47%
J/5 unsuited	10.64%	6.73	-0.2837	0.9%	77.38%
Q/2 unsuited	10.26%	6.93	-0.289	0.9%	78.28%
5/3 unsuited	10.04%	7.04	-0.2936	0.9%	79.19%
J/4 unsuited	10.22%	6.76	-0.3091	0.9%	80.09%
9/5 unsuited	9.97%	6.82	-0.3206	0.9%	81%
7/4 unsuited	9.73%	6.95	-0.3238	0.9%	81.9%
T/5 unsuited	10.06%	6.65	-0.3308	0.9%	82.81%
J/3 unsuited	9.83%	6.81	-0.3312	0.9%	83.71%
4/3 unsuited	9.38%	7.08	-0.336	0.9%	84.62%
J/2 unsuited	9.46%	6.86	-0.3512	0.9%	85.52%
T/4 unsuited	9.66%	6.67	-0.3554	0.9%	86.43%
6/3 unsuited	9.08%	7	-0.3642	0.9%	87.33%
8/4 unsuited	9.12%	6.84	-0.3766	0.9%	88.24%
T/3 unsuited	9.28%	6.72	-0.3767	0.9%	89.14%
5/2 unsuited	8.73%	7	-0.3892	0.9%	90.05%
T/2 unsuited	8.93%	6.76	-0.3962	0.9%	90.95%
9/4 unsuited	8.76%	6.71	-0.4126	0.9%	91.86%
4/2 unsuited	8.3%	7.06	-0.4138	0.9%	92.76%
7/3 unsuited	8.41%	6.88	-0.4219	0.9%	93.67%
9/3 unsuited	8.4%	6.74	-0.4338	0.9%	94.57%
9/2 unsuited	8.04%	6.8	-0.4531	0.9%	95.48%
3/2 unsuited	7.67%	7.12	-0.4543	0.9%	96.38%
6/2 unsuited	7.79%	6.94	-0.46	0.9%	97.29%
8/3 unsuited	7.96%	6.73	-0.4646	0.9%	98.19%
8/2 unsuited	7.61%	6.77	-0.4844	0.9%	99.1%
7/2 unsuited	7.28%	6.77	-0.5073	0.9%	100%
Total	7.2	0	100%

Texas Hold'em Poker Rank Hands

Methodology

This table is the result of a random simulation of 25,729,704,000 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 8-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Basically, you should only play hands that are dark green, blue, or purple. Of course you should be more be more liberal in late position and picky in early position.

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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Written by: Michael Shackleford