Guide · Starting hands
Best Starting Hands in Texas Hold'em (All 169 Ranked)
We calculated how often each of the 169 possible starting hands wins against 1 opponent and against a full table. The order changes more than you would expect.
7 min read · Updated on
In short
The best starting hand is pocket aces (AA): it wins 85% of the time against a random hand. Next are KK (82%), QQ (80%) and JJ (77%). The best non-pair is A-K suited (67%). And the worst hand is not the famous 7-2: heads-up it is 3-2 offsuit (32%).
- AA against a random hand
- 85%
- AA against a random hand
- distinct starting hands
- 169
- distinct starting hands
- points for being suited
- +2.8
- points for being suited
- the worst hand (3-2) still wins
- 32%
- the worst hand (3-2) still wins
The 20 best starting hands
| # | Hand | vs 1 opponent | vs 5 opponents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-A | 85.2% | 49.6% |
| 2 | K-K | 82.3% | 43.3% |
| 3 | Q-Q | 79.9% | 38.0% |
| 4 | J-J | 77.4% | 33.8% |
| 5 | 10-10 | 75.1% | 30.2% |
| 6 | 9-9 | 72.2% | 26.5% |
| 7 | 8-8 | 69.2% | 24.1% |
| 8 | A-K suited | 67.1% | 31.3% |
| 9 | A-Q suited | 66.2% | 29.5% |
| 10 | 7-7 | 66.0% | 21.8% |
| 11 | A-J suited | 65.5% | 27.6% |
| 12 | A-K offsuit | 65.4% | 27.9% |
| 13 | A-10 suited | 64.6% | 26.8% |
| 14 | A-Q offsuit | 64.3% | 26.1% |
| 15 | A-J offsuit | 63.8% | 24.1% |
| 16 | 6-6 | 63.3% | 20.0% |
| 17 | K-Q suited | 63.2% | 28.2% |
| 18 | A-10 offsuit | 62.8% | 23.1% |
| 19 | A-9 suited | 62.7% | 23.9% |
| 20 | K-J suited | 62.7% | 27.0% |
At a full table, the ranking changes
Against 5 opponents, a high card is not enough: you need to make something strong. That is why suited and connected hands move up, since they make flushes and straights, and aces with a small kicker move down.
J-10 suited: from 44 to 19
Climbs 25 spots at a full table.
8-7 suited: from 100 to 57
Weak against one opponent, good against many.
A-2 offsuit: from 60 to 92
If you pair the ace, someone else has a better ace.
What the numbers say
Suited is worth +2.8 points
Against 1 opponent. At a full table, +3.9. It helps, but it does not turn a bad hand into a good one.
The worst hand is 3-2, not 7-2
Heads-up, 3-2 offsuit wins 32.2% and 7-2 offsuit wins 34.5%. At a full table, 7-2 is indeed the worst (8.6%).
A small pair is a coin flip
2-2 beats A-K 53% of the time. More matchups.
A-K is not a pair
Heads-up it ranks below 8-8. If you miss the flop, you only have ace-high.
See all 169 hands
| # | Hand | vs 1 | vs 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-A | 85.2% | 49.6% |
| 2 | K-K | 82.3% | 43.3% |
| 3 | Q-Q | 79.9% | 38.0% |
| 4 | J-J | 77.4% | 33.8% |
| 5 | 10-10 | 75.1% | 30.2% |
| 6 | 9-9 | 72.2% | 26.5% |
| 7 | 8-8 | 69.2% | 24.1% |
| 8 | A-K suited | 67.1% | 31.3% |
| 9 | A-Q suited | 66.2% | 29.5% |
| 10 | 7-7 | 66.0% | 21.8% |
| 11 | A-J suited | 65.5% | 27.6% |
| 12 | A-K offsuit | 65.4% | 27.9% |
| 13 | A-10 suited | 64.6% | 26.8% |
| 14 | A-Q offsuit | 64.3% | 26.1% |
| 15 | A-J offsuit | 63.8% | 24.1% |
| 16 | 6-6 | 63.3% | 20.0% |
| 17 | K-Q suited | 63.2% | 28.2% |
| 18 | A-10 offsuit | 62.8% | 23.1% |
| 19 | A-9 suited | 62.7% | 23.9% |
| 20 | K-J suited | 62.7% | 27.0% |
| 21 | A-8 suited | 62.1% | 23.2% |
| 22 | K-10 suited | 61.7% | 25.7% |
| 23 | K-Q offsuit | 61.5% | 25.1% |
| 24 | A-7 suited | 61.1% | 22.4% |
| 25 | K-J offsuit | 60.6% | 23.5% |
| 26 | A-9 offsuit | 60.6% | 20.3% |
| 27 | 5-5 | 60.4% | 18.6% |
| 28 | Q-J suited | 60.3% | 26.3% |
| 29 | A-5 suited | 60.0% | 22.2% |
| 30 | K-9 suited | 59.8% | 23.3% |
| 31 | A-8 offsuit | 59.8% | 19.3% |
| 32 | A-6 suited | 59.7% | 21.9% |
| 33 | K-10 offsuit | 59.7% | 22.2% |
| 34 | Q-10 suited | 59.4% | 25.1% |
| 35 | A-4 suited | 59.1% | 21.6% |
| 36 | A-7 offsuit | 58.9% | 18.0% |
| 37 | K-8 suited | 58.5% | 21.4% |
| 38 | A-3 suited | 58.3% | 21.4% |
| 39 | Q-J offsuit | 58.1% | 22.9% |
| 40 | Q-9 suited | 57.8% | 22.7% |
| 41 | K-9 offsuit | 57.8% | 19.4% |
| 42 | A-6 offsuit | 57.8% | 17.3% |
| 43 | A-5 offsuit | 57.7% | 17.9% |
| 44 | J-10 suited | 57.6% | 24.8% |
| 45 | A-2 suited | 57.5% | 20.4% |
| 46 | K-7 suited | 57.5% | 20.5% |
| 47 | Q-10 offsuit | 57.4% | 21.8% |
| 48 | 4-4 | 56.9% | 17.3% |
| 49 | A-4 offsuit | 56.8% | 17.2% |
| 50 | K-6 suited | 56.6% | 20.1% |
| 51 | Q-8 suited | 56.1% | 21.0% |
| 52 | K-8 offsuit | 56.0% | 17.3% |
| 53 | K-5 suited | 55.8% | 19.2% |
| 54 | A-3 offsuit | 55.7% | 16.6% |
| 55 | J-9 suited | 55.5% | 22.5% |
| 56 | J-10 offsuit | 55.3% | 21.1% |
| 57 | Q-9 offsuit | 55.2% | 18.8% |
| 58 | K-7 offsuit | 55.1% | 16.7% |
| 59 | K-4 suited | 54.8% | 18.8% |
| 60 | A-2 offsuit | 54.8% | 16.3% |
| 61 | K-6 offsuit | 54.4% | 16.0% |
| 62 | Q-7 suited | 54.2% | 19.1% |
| 63 | K-3 suited | 54.1% | 18.7% |
| 64 | J-8 suited | 54.0% | 20.5% |
| 65 | 10-9 suited | 54.0% | 22.2% |
| 66 | Q-6 suited | 53.6% | 18.4% |
| 67 | Q-8 offsuit | 53.6% | 17.0% |
| 68 | 3-3 | 53.6% | 16.0% |
| 69 | K-5 offsuit | 53.3% | 15.2% |
| 70 | K-2 suited | 53.2% | 18.1% |
| 71 | J-9 offsuit | 53.1% | 18.8% |
| 72 | Q-5 suited | 53.0% | 17.9% |
| 73 | 10-8 suited | 52.4% | 20.5% |
| 74 | K-4 offsuit | 52.4% | 14.7% |
| 75 | J-7 suited | 52.2% | 18.8% |
| 76 | Q-4 suited | 51.8% | 17.4% |
| 77 | Q-7 offsuit | 51.6% | 15.1% |
| 78 | 10-9 offsuit | 51.6% | 19.1% |
| 79 | J-8 offsuit | 51.5% | 16.4% |
| 80 | K-3 offsuit | 51.3% | 14.6% |
| 81 | Q-6 offsuit | 51.0% | 14.4% |
| 82 | Q-3 suited | 51.0% | 17.2% |
| 83 | 9-8 suited | 50.8% | 20.3% |
| 84 | 10-7 suited | 50.7% | 19.0% |
| 85 | J-6 suited | 50.7% | 17.4% |
| 86 | K-2 offsuit | 50.5% | 14.0% |
| 87 | 2-2 | 50.3% | 15.6% |
| 88 | Q-2 suited | 50.2% | 16.6% |
| 89 | J-5 suited | 50.2% | 16.8% |
| 90 | Q-5 offsuit | 50.1% | 13.7% |
| 91 | 10-8 offsuit | 49.8% | 16.9% |
| 92 | J-7 offsuit | 49.6% | 15.1% |
| 93 | Q-4 offsuit | 49.1% | 13.2% |
| 94 | 9-7 suited | 49.1% | 18.9% |
| 95 | 10-6 suited | 49.0% | 17.2% |
| 96 | J-4 suited | 48.9% | 16.6% |
| 97 | Q-3 offsuit | 48.3% | 12.9% |
| 98 | J-3 suited | 48.3% | 16.1% |
| 99 | 9-8 offsuit | 48.2% | 16.7% |
| 100 | 8-7 suited | 48.0% | 18.9% |
| 101 | 10-7 offsuit | 48.0% | 14.9% |
| 102 | J-6 offsuit | 47.8% | 13.2% |
| 103 | J-2 suited | 47.4% | 15.5% |
| 104 | 9-6 suited | 47.3% | 17.3% |
| 105 | Q-2 offsuit | 47.2% | 12.4% |
| 106 | J-5 offsuit | 47.1% | 12.8% |
| 107 | 10-5 suited | 47.0% | 15.8% |
| 108 | 10-4 suited | 46.4% | 15.7% |
| 109 | 8-6 suited | 46.2% | 17.5% |
| 110 | 9-7 offsuit | 46.2% | 15.3% |
| 111 | J-4 offsuit | 46.2% | 12.2% |
| 112 | 10-6 offsuit | 46.1% | 13.3% |
| 113 | 10-3 suited | 45.8% | 15.1% |
| 114 | 9-5 suited | 45.7% | 16.0% |
| 115 | 7-6 suited | 45.3% | 17.8% |
| 116 | J-3 offsuit | 45.1% | 11.8% |
| 117 | 8-7 offsuit | 45.0% | 15.3% |
| 118 | 10-2 suited | 44.8% | 15.0% |
| 119 | 8-5 suited | 44.6% | 16.1% |
| 120 | 9-6 offsuit | 44.5% | 13.3% |
| 121 | J-2 offsuit | 44.3% | 11.5% |
| 122 | 10-5 offsuit | 44.1% | 12.0% |
| 123 | 9-4 suited | 43.8% | 14.6% |
| 124 | 7-5 suited | 43.8% | 16.7% |
| 125 | 10-4 offsuit | 43.6% | 11.5% |
| 126 | 9-3 suited | 43.5% | 14.2% |
| 127 | 8-6 offsuit | 43.3% | 13.8% |
| 128 | 6-5 suited | 43.0% | 17.2% |
| 129 | 8-4 suited | 42.8% | 14.9% |
| 130 | 9-5 offsuit | 42.7% | 11.9% |
| 131 | 10-3 offsuit | 42.6% | 11.1% |
| 132 | 9-2 suited | 42.4% | 14.1% |
| 133 | 7-6 offsuit | 42.2% | 14.2% |
| 134 | 7-4 suited | 41.8% | 14.9% |
| 135 | 10-2 offsuit | 41.6% | 10.7% |
| 136 | 8-5 offsuit | 41.5% | 12.4% |
| 137 | 5-4 suited | 41.5% | 16.4% |
| 138 | 6-4 suited | 41.4% | 15.5% |
| 139 | 8-3 suited | 40.8% | 13.7% |
| 140 | 9-4 offsuit | 40.6% | 10.6% |
| 141 | 7-5 offsuit | 40.4% | 12.8% |
| 142 | 8-2 suited | 40.2% | 13.5% |
| 143 | 7-3 suited | 40.0% | 14.1% |
| 144 | 9-3 offsuit | 40.0% | 10.2% |
| 145 | 5-3 suited | 39.8% | 15.3% |
| 146 | 6-5 offsuit | 39.7% | 13.3% |
| 147 | 6-3 suited | 39.5% | 14.5% |
| 148 | 8-4 offsuit | 39.4% | 10.8% |
| 149 | 9-2 offsuit | 39.2% | 9.5% |
| 150 | 4-3 suited | 38.7% | 14.7% |
| 151 | 7-4 offsuit | 38.4% | 11.4% |
| 152 | 7-2 suited | 38.3% | 12.8% |
| 153 | 5-4 offsuit | 38.1% | 12.5% |
| 154 | 6-4 offsuit | 38.0% | 12.1% |
| 155 | 6-2 suited | 37.8% | 13.5% |
| 156 | 5-2 suited | 37.7% | 14.1% |
| 157 | 8-3 offsuit | 37.4% | 9.6% |
| 158 | 4-2 suited | 36.9% | 13.6% |
| 159 | 8-2 offsuit | 36.7% | 9.0% |
| 160 | 7-3 offsuit | 36.6% | 9.9% |
| 161 | 3-2 suited | 36.1% | 12.8% |
| 162 | 5-3 offsuit | 36.1% | 11.5% |
| 163 | 6-3 offsuit | 36.0% | 10.8% |
| 164 | 4-3 offsuit | 35.1% | 10.7% |
| 165 | 7-2 offsuit | 34.5% | 8.6% |
| 166 | 5-2 offsuit | 34.4% | 9.9% |
| 167 | 6-2 offsuit | 34.0% | 9.1% |
| 168 | 4-2 offsuit | 32.9% | 9.6% |
| 169 | 3-2 offsuit | 32.2% | 9.0% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em?
Pocket aces (AA): they win 85% of the time against a random hand and almost 50% against 5 opponents.
What is the worst starting hand in poker?
Heads-up, 3-2 offsuit (32.2%). Against 5 opponents, 7-2 offsuit (8.6%).
Is A-K better than a pair?
Against high pairs, no. Against small pairs it is a coin flip: 2-2 beats A-K 53% of the time.
How much does being suited matter?
On average, 2.8 more percentage points against 1 opponent and 3.9 against 5 opponents.
What hands should I play in poker?
It depends on your position: from the first seat to act, about 16% of hands; from the button, up to 42%. See preflop opening ranges.
You know which hands are good. Now learn when to play them.
Practice with real hands and we tell you whether to raise, call or fold based on your position. Free, no real money.