Best Starting Hands in Poker

Of the 169 possible starting hands in Texas Hold'em, only a fraction are worth money from most seats. Below: the top 20 hands with exact all-in equities and their table nicknames, then the four-tier system that covers every hand you should ever voluntarily play — and why position, not the cards, decides the borderline ones. Free, no signup.

Last updated July 5, 2026Top 20 · 4 tiers · all 169 rankedFree · no signup

The best starting hand. Raise and re-raise from every seat — its only job is building a pot.

Equity = all-in win chance against one random hand. Raw equity isn't playability — pairs shine all-in, big suited cards play better postflop, which is why AKs ranks above TT here.

Quick read · 1 hand

6-max, you're first to act (UTG). You look down at A♠9♦ — ace-nine offsuit. Raise or fold?

This site also has a free practice mode — play hands against AI opponents. No signup. Try the practice table →

▸Embed this tool on your site or forum — free

Paste this into any blog post, forum thread, or coaching site. It stays free, always up to date, and needs no account. Please keep the attribution link.

<iframe src="https://holdempro.app/tools/starting-hands?embed=1" width="100%" height="620" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;background:#0a0a0b" title="Poker starting hands chart by HoldemPro" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:12px;margin:4px 0 0">Powered by <a href="https://holdempro.app/tools/starting-hands">HoldemPro</a></p>

The top 20, as text

#	Hand	Nickname	Equity vs random hand
1	AA	“Pocket aces / bullets”	85.2%
2	KK	“Cowboys”	82.4%
3	QQ	“Ladies”	79.9%
4	JJ	“Fishhooks”	77.5%
5	AKs	“Big slick, suited”	67.0%
6	TT	“Dimes”	75.1%
7	AQs	—	66.2%
8	AKo	“Big slick”	65.3%
9	AJs	—	65.4%
10	KQs	“Royal couple”	63.4%
11	99	“Wired nines”	72.1%
12	ATs	—	64.7%
13	AQo	“Big chick”	64.4%
14	AJo	“Blackjack”	63.6%
15	KJs	“Kojak”	62.6%
16	88	“Snowmen”	69.1%
17	A9s	—	63.0%
18	KTs	—	61.9%
19	QJs	“Maverick”	60.3%
20	JTs	—	58.5%

Tier 1 — Premium: AA, KK, QQ, AKs. Raise and re-raise from any position. These hands win big pots on raw strength — the mistake isn't playing them wrong postflop, it's playing them too slow preflop.

Tier 2 — Strong: JJ, TT, AQs, AKo, AJs, KQs. Open from any seat, usually 3-bet from position. Facing a 3-bet, the pairs prefer calling to set-mine or stack off short; the big cards prefer position.

Tier 3 — Solid openers: 99, 88, ATs, AQo, KJs, QJs, JTs. Profitable opens from most positions, folds to heavy aggression from early seats. This tier is where position starts deciding everything.

Tier 4 — Position hands: 77–22, A9s–A2s, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, KQo, ATo, KJo, QJo. Late-position and blind-defense material: small pairs set-mine, suited aces block the nuts, suited connectors make disguised straights and flushes. Playable because of where you sit, not what you hold.

All 169 starting hands ranked by equity

Every strategically distinct Hold'em hand, sorted by all-in equity against one random hand (heads-up), with its equity in a six-way all-in beside it. Read the two columns together: AA wins 85.1% heads-up but only 49.1% against five opponents, and hands that are a favourite in one column can be a long shot in the other. Just over half the deck — 89 of 169 hands — is a favourite heads-up against a random hand, and 89 beat their 16.7% fair share six-way, but they are not the same hands: suited connectors like 76s make the six-way cut while K2o and Q5o only make the heads-up one. Suitedness is worth about 2.2 points heads-up across the common suited/offsuit twins.

#	Hand	Type	Combos	Heads-up equity	6-max all-in equity
1	AA	Pair	6	85.1%	49.1%
2	KK	Pair	6	82.4%	43.0%
3	QQ	Pair	6	79.9%	38.1%
4	JJ	Pair	6	77.4%	33.7%
5	TT	Pair	6	74.9%	29.9%
6	99	Pair	6	72.1%	26.6%
7	88	Pair	6	69.2%	23.7%
8	AKs	Suited	4	67.0%	31.0%
9	77	Pair	6	66.3%	21.7%
10	AQs	Suited	4	66.2%	29.3%
11	AJs	Suited	4	65.4%	28.1%
12	AKo	Offsuit	12	65.2%	28.0%
13	AQo	Offsuit	12	64.6%	25.8%
14	ATs	Suited	4	64.5%	26.7%
15	AJo	Offsuit	12	63.5%	24.2%
16	KQs	Suited	4	63.4%	28.4%
17	66	Pair	6	63.3%	20.0%
18	ATo	Offsuit	12	62.8%	23.3%
19	A9s	Suited	4	62.7%	24.0%
20	KJs	Suited	4	62.4%	27.4%
21	A8s	Suited	4	61.9%	23.2%
22	KTs	Suited	4	61.9%	25.7%
23	KQo	Offsuit	12	61.6%	24.7%
24	A7s	Suited	4	60.9%	22.3%
25	A9o	Offsuit	12	60.7%	20.3%
26	KJo	Offsuit	12	60.6%	23.3%
27	55	Pair	6	60.6%	18.8%
28	QJs	Suited	4	60.4%	26.3%
29	A6s	Suited	4	60.0%	21.6%
30	K9s	Suited	4	60.0%	23.1%
31	A5s	Suited	4	59.9%	22.1%
32	A8o	Offsuit	12	59.9%	19.4%
33	KTo	Offsuit	12	59.8%	22.2%
34	QTs	Suited	4	59.4%	25.1%
35	A4s	Suited	4	59.1%	21.7%
36	A7o	Offsuit	12	58.8%	18.2%
37	A3s	Suited	4	58.5%	21.1%
38	K8s	Suited	4	58.4%	21.3%
39	QJo	Offsuit	12	58.2%	22.7%
40	K9o	Offsuit	12	57.8%	19.2%
41	K7s	Suited	4	57.7%	20.5%
42	Q9s	Suited	4	57.7%	22.4%
43	A6o	Offsuit	12	57.7%	17.2%
44	A5o	Offsuit	12	57.6%	17.8%
45	JTs	Suited	4	57.4%	24.9%
46	A2s	Suited	4	57.3%	20.5%
47	QTo	Offsuit	12	57.3%	21.8%
48	44	Pair	6	57.0%	17.2%
49	A4o	Offsuit	12	56.8%	17.1%
50	K6s	Suited	4	56.5%	20.2%
51	Q8s	Suited	4	56.0%	20.7%
52	K8o	Offsuit	12	55.9%	17.4%
53	A3o	Offsuit	12	55.9%	16.7%
54	K5s	Suited	4	55.7%	19.4%
55	J9s	Suited	4	55.7%	22.2%
56	Q9o	Offsuit	12	55.4%	19.0%
57	K7o	Offsuit	12	55.3%	16.8%
58	JTo	Offsuit	12	55.2%	21.5%
59	K4s	Suited	4	54.9%	19.1%
60	A2o	Offsuit	12	54.8%	16.2%
61	Q7s	Suited	4	54.4%	19.1%
62	K6o	Offsuit	12	54.3%	16.0%
63	K3s	Suited	4	54.2%	18.5%
64	T9s	Suited	4	54.1%	22.1%
65	J8s	Suited	4	54.0%	20.3%
66	33	Pair	6	53.9%	16.3%
67	Q6s	Suited	4	53.7%	18.6%
68	Q8o	Offsuit	12	53.7%	17.1%
69	J9o	Offsuit	12	53.4%	18.6%
70	K5o	Offsuit	12	53.4%	15.4%
71	K2s	Suited	4	53.3%	18.2%
72	Q5s	Suited	4	52.8%	17.8%
73	J7s	Suited	4	52.4%	18.9%
74	T8s	Suited	4	52.3%	21.0%
75	K4o	Offsuit	12	52.1%	14.8%
76	Q4s	Suited	4	51.9%	17.6%
77	Q7o	Offsuit	12	51.7%	15.1%
78	T9o	Offsuit	12	51.5%	18.6%
79	J8o	Offsuit	12	51.4%	16.8%
80	K3o	Offsuit	12	51.4%	14.4%
81	Q3s	Suited	4	51.0%	17.0%
82	Q6o	Offsuit	12	50.9%	14.4%
83	98s	Suited	4	50.8%	20.5%
84	T7s	Suited	4	50.7%	19.0%
85	J6s	Suited	4	50.5%	17.4%
86	K2o	Offsuit	12	50.4%	13.8%
87	22	Pair	6	50.3%	15.4%
88	Q2s	Suited	4	50.2%	16.7%
89	Q5o	Offsuit	12	50.0%	13.7%
90	J5s	Suited	4	49.9%	16.9%
91	T8o	Offsuit	12	49.7%	17.0%
92	J7o	Offsuit	12	49.7%	15.0%
93	97s	Suited	4	49.1%	18.9%
94	J4s	Suited	4	49.0%	16.7%
95	Q4o	Offsuit	12	49.0%	13.2%
96	T6s	Suited	4	48.9%	17.3%
97	J3s	Suited	4	48.3%	16.1%
98	Q3o	Offsuit	12	48.2%	12.8%
99	98o	Offsuit	12	48.0%	16.7%
100	87s	Suited	4	47.9%	18.9%
101	T7o	Offsuit	12	47.9%	15.3%
102	J6o	Offsuit	12	47.8%	13.4%
103	J2s	Suited	4	47.6%	15.6%
104	96s	Suited	4	47.5%	17.2%
105	T5s	Suited	4	47.4%	15.9%
106	Q2o	Offsuit	12	47.4%	12.7%
107	J5o	Offsuit	12	47.1%	12.9%
108	T4s	Suited	4	46.6%	15.7%
109	86s	Suited	4	46.2%	17.7%
110	97o	Offsuit	12	46.2%	15.0%
111	J4o	Offsuit	12	46.1%	12.1%
112	T6o	Offsuit	12	46.0%	13.4%
113	T3s	Suited	4	45.8%	15.3%
114	95s	Suited	4	45.6%	16.1%
115	76s	Suited	4	45.3%	18.0%
116	J3o	Offsuit	12	45.2%	11.6%
117	87o	Offsuit	12	44.9%	15.2%
118	T2s	Suited	4	44.8%	14.7%
119	85s	Suited	4	44.7%	16.3%
120	96o	Offsuit	12	44.5%	13.4%
121	J2o	Offsuit	12	44.4%	11.2%
122	T5o	Offsuit	12	44.2%	11.6%
123	94s	Suited	4	43.8%	14.5%
124	T4o	Offsuit	12	43.7%	11.5%
125	75s	Suited	4	43.6%	16.6%
126	93s	Suited	4	43.1%	14.5%
127	86o	Offsuit	12	43.1%	13.8%
128	84s	Suited	4	43.0%	14.8%
129	65s	Suited	4	43.0%	17.1%
130	T3o	Offsuit	12	42.7%	11.1%
131	92s	Suited	4	42.6%	13.9%
132	95o	Offsuit	12	42.6%	11.8%
133	76o	Offsuit	12	42.4%	13.9%
134	74s	Suited	4	41.8%	15.1%
135	85o	Offsuit	12	41.6%	12.5%
136	54s	Suited	4	41.6%	16.4%
137	T2o	Offsuit	12	41.6%	10.9%
138	64s	Suited	4	41.3%	15.9%
139	83s	Suited	4	41.0%	13.6%
140	94o	Offsuit	12	40.6%	10.3%
141	82s	Suited	4	40.4%	13.3%
142	75o	Offsuit	12	40.4%	12.7%
143	73s	Suited	4	40.2%	13.8%
144	65o	Offsuit	12	39.9%	13.3%
145	93o	Offsuit	12	39.8%	9.9%
146	63s	Suited	4	39.7%	14.7%
147	53s	Suited	4	39.7%	15.6%
148	84o	Offsuit	12	39.4%	10.9%
149	92o	Offsuit	12	39.1%	9.8%
150	43s	Suited	4	38.6%	14.5%
151	74o	Offsuit	12	38.3%	11.6%
152	72s	Suited	4	38.1%	12.8%
153	54o	Offsuit	12	38.1%	12.6%
154	64o	Offsuit	12	38.0%	11.9%
155	52s	Suited	4	37.9%	14.1%
156	62s	Suited	4	37.8%	13.2%
157	83o	Offsuit	12	37.4%	9.4%
158	82o	Offsuit	12	36.9%	8.9%
159	42s	Suited	4	36.8%	13.6%
160	73o	Offsuit	12	36.6%	10.0%
161	53o	Offsuit	12	36.3%	11.4%
162	63o	Offsuit	12	35.9%	10.4%
163	32s	Suited	4	35.8%	13.0%
164	43o	Offsuit	12	35.1%	11.0%
165	72o	Offsuit	12	34.7%	8.6%
166	52o	Offsuit	12	34.2%	9.9%
167	62o	Offsuit	12	34.1%	9.0%
168	42o	Offsuit	12	33.1%	9.4%
169	32o	Offsuit	12	32.3%	9.0%

Method: Monte Carlo over HoldemPro's evaluator; heads-up 200,000 run-outs per hand, 6-max 50,000, matchups 100,000. Suits chosen as the first non-conflicting combo; equity counts ties as split. Generated 2026-08-31; values are accurate to roughly ±0.2 points heads-up. Heads-up equity is the standard "vs one random hand" figure; the top-20 list above uses conventional strength order, which is why AKs sits above TT there but below it here.

Common hand-vs-hand matchups

The all-in confrontations that come up most: pair over pair, pair versus overcards (the "coinflip"), and dominated hands. The pattern worth memorising is that a dominated hand — AQ against AK, KQ against AK — is a far worse spot (about 3-to-1) than a coinflip (about 55/45), which is why folding a big-but-dominated hand preflop is rarely a disaster and calling with one often is.

Matchup	Situation	Equity
AA vs KK	Pair over pair	82.7% / 17.3%
AA vs AKs	Aces vs big slick	87.9% / 12.1%
KK vs AKs	Kings vs big slick	65.9% / 34.1%
QQ vs AKo	Pair vs two overcards (the classic flip)	56.5% / 43.5%
QQ vs AKs	Pair vs two overcards, suited	54.2% / 45.8%
JJ vs AKo	Pair vs two overcards	56.6% / 43.4%
TT vs AKo	Pair vs two overcards	56.7% / 43.3%
22 vs AKo	Small pair vs two overcards	52.5% / 47.5%
AKs vs AQs	Dominated ace	71.2% / 28.8%
AKo vs AQo	Dominated ace, offsuit	74.7% / 25.3%
AKo vs KQs	Dominated king	71.4% / 28.6%
AKo vs 87s	Two overcards vs suited connector	59.5% / 40.5%
AKo vs 76o	Two overcards vs offsuit connector	62.5% / 37.5%
AA vs 76s	Aces vs suited connector	78.1% / 21.9%
KK vs A2o	Kings vs any ace	71.7% / 28.3%
99 vs 88	Pair over pair, close ranks	82.8% / 17.2%
A2o vs KQs	Weak ace vs suited broadway	55.3% / 44.7%
JTs vs 22	Suited connector vs small pair	53.6% / 46.4%
AKo vs AA	Big slick offsuit vs aces	6.5% / 93.5%
T9s vs AJo	Suited connector vs dominated broadway	39.3% / 60.7%

Matchups use one representative suit combination each (for example AKs vs AQs sharing a suit), so exact figures shift a point or two with different suits. For any specific hand or range, the equity calculator · push/fold chart runs the exact matchup.

Why "which hands" is really "which seat"

A tier list answers the beginner question; the full answer is positional. The same 87s that's a clear fold under the gun is a standard open on the button, because five players acting behind you is a different game from zero. When you're ready for the seat-by-seat version — exact opening, 3-betting and defending ranges for all six positions — the preflop range chart is this page's grown-up sibling.

Starting hands FAQ

What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold'em?

The top ten, in conventional order: pocket aces, kings, queens, jacks, ace-king suited, tens, ace-queen suited, ace-king offsuit, ace-jack suited, and king-queen suited. Aces win about 85% of the time all-in against one random hand; even tenth-ranked KQs wins over 63%.

How many starting hands are there in Hold'em?

169 strategically distinct hands: 13 pocket pairs, 78 suited combinations, and 78 offsuit combinations. Counting exact cards there are 1,326 two-card combos — every offsuit hand has 12 combos, suited hands 4, and pairs 6, which is why you're dealt an offsuit hand three times as often as its suited twin.

Is AK better than a pocket pair?

Against small and medium pairs, AK is the classic coinflip — roughly 43–48% equity depending on suits. The pair is technically ahead, but AK's real strength is domination: when an ace or king flops, it usually has the best kicker. Raw all-in equity and playability are different questions, which is why AKs ranks above TT on most lists despite lower all-in equity versus a random hand.

What percentage of starting hands should you play?

Winning 6-max players typically play roughly 20–28% of hands, but the honest answer is positional: around 15–18% from the first seat and 40%+ on the button. Playing a fixed percentage from every seat is one of the most common measurable leaks in low-stakes poker.

What is the worst starting hand in poker?

By raw all-in equity the worst hand is 32o at 32.3% against one random hand, but the hand players call the worst is 7-2 offsuit (34.7%): the two lowest cards that can't make a straight together. In practice both are folds from every seat, and every offsuit hand from about T4o down sits under 45% equity heads-up.

How much does a hand's equity drop at a full table?

A lot. Aces win 85.1% of the time against one random hand but only 49.1% all-in against five — still nearly three times its fair share of the pot, which is why they are always a raise. 89 of 169 hands beat the 16.7% "fair share" in a six-way all-in and 89 are a favourite heads-up, but the six-way list favours suited connectors over weak offsuit high cards. This is the numerical reason opening ranges tighten with more players left to act.

Are suited hands much better than offsuit?

Suitedness adds about 2–4 percentage points of equity — real, but smaller than beginners assume. The deeper value is playability: suited hands flop flush draws that let you continue profitably. It turns KQs into a tier-2 hand while KQo waits for late position; it does not turn a bad hand into a good one.