Introduction

The following table ranks the top hands in a 6-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.

The hands are ranked from #1 to #169, where #1 is the best. This ranking is applicable when the poker table is full ring (9-10 people). The ranking is based on computer calculation results with all the players staying to the river card. It is not applicable to any real play. Apr 22, 2015 Setting aside the idea of actually ranking the 169 hands from best to worst, we might think for a moment about other ways of categorizing starting hands in hold’em, using that initial breakdown. Texas Holdem Rankings for All 169 Starting Hands. Ever since the early days of Texas holdem poker, players have attempted to analyze and organize the 169 possible two card starting hands found in. Poker Hand Rankings - Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart. 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.

Explanation of column headings:

6+ Holdem Hand Rankings

• 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

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

This table is the result of a random simulation 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 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.

Inside Links

Holdem Poker Starting Hand Rankings Printable

Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart

Written by: Michael Shackleford