Poker Hand Rankings for Texas Hold'em

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). On the other hand, [22] from the Button (D or Dealer position), will make -$0.12 EV, or -$0.72 in a $3/$6 game (6 * -$0.12).

These Texas Hold'em poker hand stats were graciously compiled and given out by PokerRoom, a major online poker site. Thus, these stats are compiled from live table data instead of hand simulations. I recommend that you print this out and tape it to the wall if you need help selecting good starting poker hands.

Statistical Rankings of Hole Cards

David Sklansky's starting hand analysis from the book "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players" is considered a standard in the poker world. However, these charts were created by Sklansky without any definitive proof of why certain hands were better - they simply were.

With this starting hands EV chart, you now have statistical rankings of each Hold'em hand. By only playing hands that have profitable expected value, you will greatly increase your ability to earn money over the long-term at Texas Hold'em. Please remember, however, that this is a compilation of EV for the average player, and the average player may not play the same way that you do.

You will still need to play your poker hands tactically, which means that you still need to observe your opponents, take notes, watch out for traps and calculate your odds. You need to play your hand as the situation dictates and not get married to a hand just because it is a long-term winner. Remember: Texas Hold'em is all about knowing when to fold'em as well.

Position Affects Your Hand Value

The most important aspect to focus on in this ranking chart is to notice the value of position when it comes to your hand. In Texas Hold'em, position is a huge advantage - you want to be as close to the Button as possible (as the Button the last person to act after the flop).

When you are in positions like the SB (Small Blind) and BB (Big Blind), you can see that your starting hand EV drops significantly in Texas Hold'em. This is due to the fact that you often end up betting or calling in these positions with hands that are much weaker than you would normally play. In addition, people behind you get to see your actions, so they are in better position to perform tricky moves or steal the pot if necessary. This is why many Texas Hold'em experts say that if you observe a game, that money tends to flow toward the direction of the Button.

This means that you want to tighten up your starting hand selection early in the game and drop questionable hands like [KT], [QT], [JT], [T9] - and possibly even [KJ] or [QJ] - in early position. You can see for yourself on the EV chart that these hands will lose you money in the long run in Hold'em. In late position, however, you can relax your starting hand selection to include these cards. You can also begin playing pocket pairs a bit more liberally in late position.

Starting hands are the key to success in Texas Hold'em

You might think that starting hand strategy in poker is all about getting big cards and winning with them, but that's only half the story. The other half of the story is avoiding getting yourself into situations where you call down with weak cards.

If you've played poker already, you'll probably nod your head in agreement when you hear this situation:

You're in the Big Blind and you catch top pair on the flop with a weak kicker. A player bets, and you call the flop with your top pair. The player bets both the turn and river, and you call again (even when you really don't want to). When you turn your cards over, you find to your dismay that your opponent has a bigger kicker and wins the pot. You've just been out-kicked! This happens all the time and the key is to let it happen to your opponents - not you! Always remember this fundamental principle to poker: "A bet saved is a bet earned!"

Poker Hand Ranking Chart:

Total EV stats ordered by value Cards EV Count AA 2.32 521,324 KK 1.67 522,652 QQ 1.22 520,663 JJ 0.86 521,866 AK s 0.78 348,364 AQ s 0.59 348,759 TT 0.58 520,705 AK 0.51 1,048,008 AJ s 0.44 348,126 KQ s 0.39 346,772 99 0.38 522,454 AT s 0.32 348,013 AQ 0.31 1,042,962 KJ s 0.29 346,582 88 0.25 521,972 QJ s 0.23 348,870 KT s 0.20 348,774 A9 s 0.19 348,992 AJ 0.19 1,045,857 QT s 0.17 346,115 KQ 0.16 1,045,069 77 0.16 524,345 JT s 0.15 348,235 A8 s 0.10 349,431 K9 s 0.09 348,286 AT 0.08 1,047,289 A5 s 0.08 348,544 A7s 0.08 349,949 KJ 0.08 1,047,098 66 0.07 520,946 T9 s 0.05 348,264 A4 s 0.05 347,862 Q9 s 0.05 348,760 J9 s 0.04 349,965 QJ 0.03 1,044,338 A6 s 0.03 347,677 55 0.02 521,945 A3 s 0.02 347,895 K8 s 0.01 350,401 KT 0.01 1,045,392 98 s 0.00 348,759 T8 s -0.00 347,443 K7 s -0.00 348,341 A2 s 0.00 347,318 87 s -0.02 348,348 QT -0.02 1,047,827 Q8 s -0.02 348,381 44 -0.03 523,398 A9 -0.03 1,047,672 J8 s -0.03 348,046 76 s -0.03 347,540 JT -0.03 1,043,812 97 s -0.04 350,158 K6 s -0.04 347,029 K5 s -0.05 349,320 K4 s -0.05 348,681 T7 s -0.05 347,638 Cards EV Count Q7 s -0.06 348,073 K9 -0.07 1,045,630 65 s -0.07 348,590 T9 -0.07 1,045,306 86 s -0.07 348,374 A8 -0.07 1,042,209 J7 s -0.07 345,009 33 -0.07 522,632 54 s -0.08 348,260 Q6 s -0.08 349,068 K3 s -0.08 348,865 Q9 -0.08 1,049,468 75 s -0.09 349,781 22 -0.09 524,131 J9 -0.09 1,044,150 64 s -0.09 349,689 Q5 s -0.09 350,110 K2 s -0.09 349,276 96 s -0.09 349,514 Q3 s -0.10 348,009 J8 -0.10 1,046,506 98 -0.10 1,044,759 T8 -0.10 1,048,779 97 -0.10 1,046,152 A7 -0.10 1,046,587 T7 -0.10 1,044,950 Q4 s -0.10 348,979 Q8 -0.11 1,048,251 J5 s -0.11 348,923 T6 -0.11 1,043,014 75 -0.11 1,047,447 J4 s -0.11 347,508 74 s -0.11 350,325 K8 -0.11 1,048,167 86 -0.11 1,047,524 53 s -0.11 346,930 K7 -0.11 1,043,698 63 s -0.11 346,449 J6 s -0.11 347,570 85 -0.11 1,048,159 T6 s -0.11 348,875 76 -0.11 1,046,722 A6 -0.12 1,046,762 T2 -0.12 1,047,032 95 s -0.12 348,477 84 -0.12 1,046,266 62 -0.12 1,049,495 T5 s -0.12 348,928 95 -0.12 1,044,601 A5 -0.12 1,046,285 Q7 -0.12 1,046,099 T5 -0.12 1,048,428 87 -0.12 1,044,635 83 -0.12 1,048,550 65 -0.12 1,045,971 Q2 s -0.12 348,912 94 -0.12 1,047,422 Cards EV Count 74 -0.12 1,043,278 54 -0.12 1,046,435 A4 -0.12 1,046,931 T4 -0.12 1,047,976 82 -0.12 1,043,638 64 -0.12 1,043,079 42 -0.12 1,043,357 J7 -0.12 1,046,565 93 -0.12 1,045,989 85 s -0.12 347,928 73 -0.12 1,047,020 53 -0.12 1,047,022 T3 -0.12 1,043,908 63 -0.12 1,044,818 K6 -0.12 1,045,039 J6 -0.12 1,045,991 96 -0.12 1,047,156 92 -0.12 1,049,342 72 -0.12 1,046,167 52 -0.12 1,049,213 Q4 -0.13 1,045,087 K5 -0.13 1,047,359 J5 -0.13 1,047,697 43 s -0.13 348,802 Q3 -0.13 1,047,649 43 -0.13 1,047,900 K4 -0.13 1,046,562 J4 -0.13 1,048,129 T4 s -0.13 350,639 Q6 -0.13 1,046,958 Q2 -0.13 1,046,353 J3 s -0.13 349,254 J3 -0.13 1,046,204 T3 s -0.13 349,673 A3 -0.13 1,046,970 Q5 -0.13 1,047,946 J2 -0.13 1,045,715 84 s -0.13 349,390 82 s -0.14 348,622 42 s -0.14 350,591 93 s -0.14 348,835 73 s -0.14 349,007 K3 -0.14 1,045,968 J2 s -0.14 348,259 92 s -0.14 347,868 52 s -0.14 348,401 K2 -0.14 1,048,521 T2 s -0.14 349,612 62 s -0.14 348,033 32 -0.14 1,044,956 A2 -0.15 1,047,979 83 s -0.15 349,355 94 s -0.15 348,259 72 s -0.15 348,368 32 s -0.15 349,794 The statistics are based on 115,591,080 pair of pocket cards dealt at the real money tables. The unit for EV is average profit in big bets.

Click here for a table that includes EV with Position for all Starting Hands

Read more about poker hands in this famous guide to starting hands in texas hold'em that has been floating around on the internet for a few years. Player's Guide to Starting Hands

If you are looking for help on the different poker hand rankings, such as if a flush beats a straight, or two pair beats three of a kind, then visit our Poker Hand Rankings page instead.

Want to put your knowledge of hand rankings into effect? Play at PokerRoom.com and see for yourself how much money you can make off high ranking hands.

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