Average Hand In Texas Holdem
This grid compares the strength of a particular Texas hold'em hand (in this case ) against all other hands. Each square represents a pair of opponent cards, and the color represents the relative strength of these two hands — the redder the square, the more likely the opponent hand is to win. These probabilities were computed by enumerating all ≈1.3 trillion hands of heads-up Texas hold'em.
- The average color in the above panel is a single number summarizing the strength of a hand averaged over all opponent hands. Computing this for all hand combinations produces the panel on the left. If you like thinking about the first panel as a 2D slice through a 4D cube, then this second panel is a projection of the 4D cube into 2D.
- Play Good Cards and You Will Win. My #1 Texas Holdem tip is one of the very first.
Navigating the Grid
Opponent pair cards are organized along the main diagonal, in a band of 4x4 boxes. Opponent suited cards lie along other diagonals. The dark squares correspond to impossible hands, where a card is duplicated.
The evolution of how to play no-limit hold’em, fuelled by the expanded literature, televised poker and the internet, now includes the value of playing marginal hands. With the changing poker landscape, the play of marginal hands evolved from perceived weak, undisciplined play to a brilliant, profitable strategy. It sounds weird saying that the best PF hand in holdem needs help to win, but i do remember hearing that the average hand is 2 pair Multi-Quote Quote & Reply #10.
Tidbits
Average Winning Hand In Texas Holdem
If you are holding a pair, an opponent holding any higher pair has essentially the same advantage over you, regardless of the rank of the pair. In fact, compared to (say) a pair of 6s, a pair of 7s is slightly better than a pair of Aces.
While a pair of Aces is the strongest hand averaged over all opponent hands, the single strongest heads-up face-off is a pair of Kings vs a K+2 offsuit.
Introduction
The following table ranks the top hands in a 3-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.
- 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 3 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 $1.20.
- 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 3-Player Game
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
| Pair of A's | 73.78% | 2.99 | 1.2034 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 69.21% | 2.99 | 1.066 | 0.45% | 0.9% |
| Pair of Q's | 65.29% | 2.98 | 0.9475 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| Pair of J's | 61.57% | 2.98 | 0.835 | 0.45% | 1.81% |
| Pair of T's | 58.02% | 2.98 | 0.7272 | 0.45% | 2.26% |
| Pair of 9's | 54.08% | 2.97 | 0.6084 | 0.45% | 2.71% |
| A/K suited | 51.77% | 2.94 | 0.5221 | 0.3% | 3.02% |
| Pair of 8's | 50.46% | 2.97 | 0.4986 | 0.45% | 3.47% |
| A/Q suited | 50.56% | 2.93 | 0.4824 | 0.3% | 3.77% |
| A/K unsuited | 49.28% | 2.93 | 0.4462 | 0.9% | 4.68% |
| A/J suited | 49.49% | 2.92 | 0.4461 | 0.3% | 4.98% |
| K/Q suited | 48.28% | 2.93 | 0.4128 | 0.3% | 5.28% |
| A/T suited | 48.5% | 2.91 | 0.4121 | 0.3% | 5.58% |
| A/Q unsuited | 48.01% | 2.93 | 0.4045 | 0.9% | 6.49% |
| Pair of 7's | 47.02% | 2.97 | 0.3945 | 0.45% | 6.94% |
| K/J suited | 47.22% | 2.92 | 0.3772 | 0.3% | 7.24% |
| A/J unsuited | 46.84% | 2.91 | 0.3652 | 0.9% | 8.14% |
| K/T suited | 46.24% | 2.91 | 0.3436 | 0.3% | 8.45% |
| A/9 suited | 46.16% | 2.9 | 0.3366 | 0.3% | 8.75% |
| K/Q unsuited | 45.61% | 2.92 | 0.3318 | 0.9% | 9.65% |
| A/T unsuited | 45.79% | 2.9 | 0.3289 | 0.9% | 10.56% |
| Q/J suited | 45.55% | 2.91 | 0.3256 | 0.3% | 10.86% |
| A/8 suited | 45.31% | 2.88 | 0.3058 | 0.3% | 11.16% |
| Pair of 6's | 43.77% | 2.96 | 0.2958 | 0.45% | 11.61% |
| Q/T suited | 44.59% | 2.9 | 0.2932 | 0.3% | 11.92% |
| K/J unsuited | 44.46% | 2.91 | 0.293 | 0.9% | 12.82% |
| A/7 suited | 44.32% | 2.87 | 0.2719 | 0.3% | 13.12% |
| K/9 suited | 43.88% | 2.89 | 0.2689 | 0.3% | 13.42% |
| J/T suited | 43.44% | 2.9 | 0.2582 | 0.3% | 13.73% |
| K/T unsuited | 43.42% | 2.9 | 0.2576 | 0.9% | 14.63% |
| A/9 unsuited | 43.25% | 2.88 | 0.2473 | 0.9% | 15.54% |
| A/5 suited | 43.59% | 2.85 | 0.2431 | 0.3% | 15.84% |
| Q/J unsuited | 42.76% | 2.9 | 0.2406 | 0.9% | 16.74% |
| A/6 suited | 43.19% | 2.86 | 0.2348 | 0.3% | 17.04% |
| Q/9 suited | 42.25% | 2.89 | 0.2193 | 0.3% | 17.35% |
| A/4 suited | 42.7% | 2.85 | 0.2161 | 0.3% | 17.65% |
| A/8 unsuited | 42.31% | 2.87 | 0.2136 | 0.9% | 18.55% |
| Q/T unsuited | 41.73% | 2.89 | 0.206 | 0.9% | 19.46% |
| K/8 suited | 41.91% | 2.88 | 0.2048 | 0.3% | 19.76% |
| Pair of 5's | 40.7% | 2.95 | 0.2017 | 0.45% | 20.21% |
| A/3 suited | 41.8% | 2.85 | 0.1901 | 0.3% | 20.51% |
| J/9 suited | 41.11% | 2.88 | 0.1844 | 0.3% | 20.81% |
| K/7 suited | 41.19% | 2.86 | 0.1786 | 0.3% | 21.12% |
| A/7 unsuited | 41.25% | 2.85 | 0.177 | 0.9% | 22.02% |
| K/9 unsuited | 40.88% | 2.88 | 0.1769 | 0.9% | 22.93% |
| J/T unsuited | 40.58% | 2.89 | 0.171 | 0.9% | 23.83% |
| A/2 suited | 40.86% | 2.85 | 0.163 | 0.3% | 24.13% |
| T/9 suited | 40.38% | 2.88 | 0.1617 | 0.3% | 24.43% |
| Q/8 suited | 40.28% | 2.87 | 0.1564 | 0.3% | 24.74% |
| K/6 suited | 40.29% | 2.85 | 0.1483 | 0.3% | 25.04% |
| A/5 unsuited | 40.46% | 2.83 | 0.1458 | 0.9% | 25.94% |
| A/6 unsuited | 40.04% | 2.84 | 0.1374 | 0.9% | 26.85% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 39.2% | 2.87 | 0.1262 | 0.9% | 27.75% |
| K/5 suited | 39.51% | 2.84 | 0.122 | 0.3% | 28.05% |
| J/8 suited | 39.14% | 2.87 | 0.1219 | 0.3% | 28.36% |
| A/4 unsuited | 39.45% | 2.83 | 0.1155 | 0.9% | 29.26% |
| K/8 unsuited | 38.75% | 2.86 | 0.1079 | 0.9% | 30.17% |
| Pair of 4's | 37.42% | 2.95 | 0.1026 | 0.45% | 30.62% |
| T/8 suited | 38.46% | 2.86 | 0.1004 | 0.3% | 30.92% |
| K/4 suited | 38.63% | 2.84 | 0.0956 | 0.3% | 31.22% |
| Q/7 suited | 38.33% | 2.85 | 0.0937 | 0.3% | 31.52% |
| J/9 unsuited | 38.05% | 2.87 | 0.0908 | 0.9% | 32.43% |
| A/3 unsuited | 38.5% | 2.83 | 0.0879 | 0.9% | 33.33% |
| K/7 unsuited | 37.96% | 2.84 | 0.0792 | 0.9% | 34.24% |
| 9/8 suited | 37.74% | 2.86 | 0.079 | 0.3% | 34.54% |
| Q/6 suited | 37.7% | 2.84 | 0.0712 | 0.3% | 34.84% |
| K/3 suited | 37.78% | 2.84 | 0.0712 | 0.3% | 35.14% |
| T/9 unsuited | 37.36% | 2.86 | 0.0692 | 0.9% | 36.05% |
| J/7 suited | 37.21% | 2.85 | 0.0605 | 0.3% | 36.35% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 37.09% | 2.85 | 0.0585 | 0.9% | 37.25% |
| A/2 unsuited | 37.47% | 2.82 | 0.0579 | 0.9% | 38.16% |
| K/6 unsuited | 37% | 2.83 | 0.0469 | 0.9% | 39.06% |
| K/2 suited | 36.91% | 2.83 | 0.0464 | 0.3% | 39.37% |
| Q/5 suited | 36.93% | 2.83 | 0.0455 | 0.3% | 39.67% |
| T/7 suited | 36.51% | 2.85 | 0.0394 | 0.3% | 39.97% |
| J/8 unsuited | 35.94% | 2.85 | 0.0237 | 0.9% | 40.87% |
| 9/7 suited | 35.95% | 2.84 | 0.0223 | 0.3% | 41.18% |
| Q/4 suited | 36.08% | 2.83 | 0.0203 | 0.3% | 41.48% |
| K/5 unsuited | 36.15% | 2.82 | 0.0183 | 0.9% | 42.38% |
| 8/7 suited | 35.65% | 2.84 | 0.0134 | 0.3% | 42.68% |
| Pair of 3's | 34.33% | 2.94 | 0.0087 | 0.45% | 43.14% |
| T/8 unsuited | 35.26% | 2.84 | 0.0026 | 0.9% | 44.04% |
| J/6 suited | 35.33% | 2.83 | 0.0009 | 0.3% | 44.34% |
| Q/3 suited | 35.22% | 2.83 | -0.0042 | 0.3% | 44.65% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 35.01% | 2.83 | -0.0082 | 0.9% | 45.55% |
| K/4 unsuited | 35.19% | 2.81 | -0.0104 | 0.9% | 46.46% |
| J/5 suited | 34.79% | 2.82 | -0.0182 | 0.3% | 46.76% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 34.55% | 2.84 | -0.0185 | 0.9% | 47.66% |
| T/6 suited | 34.64% | 2.83 | -0.0194 | 0.3% | 47.96% |
| Q/2 suited | 34.4% | 2.83 | -0.0279 | 0.3% | 48.27% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 34.33% | 2.82 | -0.0326 | 0.9% | 49.17% |
| 9/6 suited | 34.08% | 2.83 | -0.0357 | 0.3% | 49.47% |
| K/3 unsuited | 34.26% | 2.81 | -0.0374 | 0.9% | 50.38% |
| 8/6 suited | 33.88% | 2.83 | -0.0416 | 0.3% | 50.68% |
| J/7 unsuited | 33.86% | 2.83 | -0.0422 | 0.9% | 51.58% |
| 7/6 suited | 33.85% | 2.83 | -0.0424 | 0.3% | 51.89% |
| J/4 suited | 33.95% | 2.82 | -0.043 | 0.3% | 52.19% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 33.48% | 2.81 | -0.0607 | 0.9% | 53.09% |
| T/7 unsuited | 33.19% | 2.82 | -0.0626 | 0.9% | 54% |
| K/2 unsuited | 33.34% | 2.81 | -0.0642 | 0.9% | 54.9% |
| J/3 suited | 33.14% | 2.82 | -0.0659 | 0.3% | 55.2% |
| T/5 suited | 32.81% | 2.81 | -0.0768 | 0.3% | 55.51% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 32.6% | 2.82 | -0.0799 | 0.9% | 56.41% |
| Pair of 2's | 31.4% | 2.93 | -0.0804 | 0.45% | 56.86% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 32.33% | 2.82 | -0.0881 | 0.9% | 57.77% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 32.55% | 2.8 | -0.0886 | 0.9% | 58.67% |
| J/2 suited | 32.33% | 2.82 | -0.0891 | 0.3% | 58.97% |
| 6/5 suited | 32.21% | 2.82 | -0.0923 | 0.3% | 59.28% |
| 9/5 suited | 32.24% | 2.81 | -0.0927 | 0.3% | 59.58% |
| T/4 suited | 32.22% | 2.81 | -0.0945 | 0.3% | 59.88% |
| 7/5 suited | 32.1% | 2.82 | -0.0962 | 0.3% | 60.18% |
| 8/5 suited | 32.06% | 2.81 | -0.0979 | 0.3% | 60.48% |
| J/6 unsuited | 31.85% | 2.81 | -0.106 | 0.9% | 61.39% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 31.63% | 2.8 | -0.115 | 0.9% | 62.29% |
| T/3 suited | 31.42% | 2.81 | -0.1172 | 0.3% | 62.59% |
| T/6 unsuited | 31.16% | 2.8 | -0.1262 | 0.9% | 63.5% |
| J/5 unsuited | 31.26% | 2.79 | -0.1268 | 0.9% | 64.4% |
| 5/4 suited | 30.98% | 2.81 | -0.1295 | 0.3% | 64.71% |
| T/2 suited | 30.6% | 2.81 | -0.1405 | 0.3% | 65.01% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 30.72% | 2.8 | -0.1413 | 0.9% | 65.91% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 30.61% | 2.8 | -0.1421 | 0.9% | 66.82% |
| 6/4 suited | 30.42% | 2.81 | -0.1453 | 0.3% | 67.12% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 30.43% | 2.8 | -0.1473 | 0.9% | 68.02% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 30.41% | 2.8 | -0.1477 | 0.9% | 68.93% |
| 9/4 suited | 30.35% | 2.8 | -0.1492 | 0.3% | 69.23% |
| 7/4 suited | 30.21% | 2.81 | -0.1522 | 0.3% | 69.53% |
| J/4 unsuited | 30.35% | 2.79 | -0.1538 | 0.9% | 70.44% |
| 8/4 suited | 30.16% | 2.8 | -0.1542 | 0.3% | 70.74% |
| 9/3 suited | 29.78% | 2.8 | -0.1654 | 0.3% | 71.04% |
| J/3 unsuited | 29.44% | 2.79 | -0.1798 | 0.9% | 71.95% |
| 5/3 suited | 29.18% | 2.8 | -0.1821 | 0.3% | 72.25% |
| T/5 unsuited | 29.21% | 2.78 | -0.1872 | 0.9% | 73.15% |
| 9/2 suited | 28.98% | 2.8 | -0.1883 | 0.3% | 73.45% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 28.7% | 2.79 | -0.1998 | 0.9% | 74.36% |
| 6/3 suited | 28.55% | 2.8 | -0.2002 | 0.3% | 74.66% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 28.63% | 2.78 | -0.2035 | 0.9% | 75.57% |
| J/2 unsuited | 28.56% | 2.78 | -0.2052 | 0.9% | 76.47% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 28.54% | 2.78 | -0.2053 | 0.9% | 77.38% |
| T/4 unsuited | 28.55% | 2.78 | -0.2072 | 0.9% | 78.28% |
| 4/3 suited | 28.28% | 2.8 | -0.2074 | 0.3% | 78.58% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 28.47% | 2.78 | -0.2078 | 0.9% | 79.49% |
| 7/3 suited | 28.3% | 2.8 | -0.2082 | 0.3% | 79.79% |
| 8/3 suited | 28.28% | 2.8 | -0.2093 | 0.3% | 80.09% |
| 8/2 suited | 27.73% | 2.79 | -0.2253 | 0.3% | 80.39% |
| T/3 unsuited | 27.68% | 2.77 | -0.2324 | 0.9% | 81.3% |
| 5/2 suited | 27.3% | 2.79 | -0.2371 | 0.3% | 81.6% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 27.37% | 2.78 | -0.2401 | 0.9% | 82.5% |
| 6/2 suited | 26.65% | 2.79 | -0.2559 | 0.3% | 82.81% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 26.76% | 2.77 | -0.2576 | 0.9% | 83.71% |
| T/2 unsuited | 26.79% | 2.77 | -0.2578 | 0.9% | 84.62% |
| 4/2 suited | 26.49% | 2.79 | -0.2599 | 0.3% | 84.92% |
| 7/2 suited | 26.44% | 2.79 | -0.2628 | 0.3% | 85.22% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 26.59% | 2.77 | -0.2644 | 0.9% | 86.12% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 26.51% | 2.77 | -0.2657 | 0.9% | 87.03% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 26.42% | 2.77 | -0.2687 | 0.9% | 87.93% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 25.97% | 2.76 | -0.2825 | 0.9% | 88.84% |
| 3/2 suited | 25.61% | 2.79 | -0.285 | 0.3% | 89.14% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 25.46% | 2.76 | -0.2961 | 0.9% | 90.05% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 25.1% | 2.76 | -0.3073 | 0.9% | 90.95% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 24.74% | 2.76 | -0.3168 | 0.9% | 91.86% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 24.49% | 2.76 | -0.3238 | 0.9% | 92.76% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 24.47% | 2.76 | -0.3256 | 0.9% | 93.67% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 24.4% | 2.75 | -0.3285 | 0.9% | 94.57% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 23.79% | 2.75 | -0.3462 | 0.9% | 95.48% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 23.43% | 2.75 | -0.3558 | 0.9% | 96.38% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 22.69% | 2.75 | -0.3769 | 0.9% | 97.29% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 22.56% | 2.75 | -0.3801 | 0.9% | 98.19% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 22.44% | 2.74 | -0.3854 | 0.9% | 99.1% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 21.61% | 2.74 | -0.4072 | 0.9% | 100% |
| Total | 2.84 | 100% |
Methodology:
This table is the result of a random simulation of 68,612,544,000 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 3-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.
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