169 Starting Hands: Preflop Equity Rankings and Tier Guide

Texas Hold'em has 169 unique starting-hand types (13 pairs + 78 suited + 78 offsuit). Each has a baseline heads-up equity vs one random hand, calculated from exhaustive combinatorics and Monte Carlo simulation (PokerStove-style engines, RiverOdds, devutl.com calculators).

That number is not destiny. Position, stack depth, and number of opponents raise or lower real-world value. But you cannot adjust wisely if you do not know the baseline.

How to Read the Rankings

• Equity: Win probability when all-in preflop heads-up vs a random two-card hand (excluding card removal effects in multiway pots).
• s = suited | o = offsuit
• Suited versions typically run 1.5–3 percentage points higher than offsuit counterparts.
• Data rounded to one decimal; sources converge within ±0.5% on premium hands.

Pocket Pairs

Pocket pairs arrive pre-made—no flop needed for a pair.

Hand	Equity vs Random	Tier	Notes
AA	85.2%	Premium	~1 in 221 dealt; loses ~15% HU even to 72o
KK	82.4%	Premium	~82% vs QQ; dominated-pair math
QQ	79.9%	Premium	~54% vs AKs (slight favorite, not a lock)
JJ	77.5%	Strong	Vulnerable to overcards preflop
TT	75.0%	Strong	Borderline vs tight 3-bet ranges
99	72.1%	Medium+	Set-mining core
88	69.1%	Medium+
77	66.2%	Medium
66	63.3%	Medium
55	60.3%	Speculative
44	57.1%	Speculative
33	53.7%	Speculative
22	50.3%	Speculative	Coin-flip vs random—not vs AK

Action notes:

• AA–QQ: Raise and re-raise from most positions.
• JJ–TT: Strong but position-sensitive vs 3-bets.
• 99–77: Play for sets; fold to heavy aggression out of position.
• 66–22: Cheap flops, big pots when you hit; fold when you miss.

Top Non-Pair Hands (Equity Leaders)

Rank	Hand	Equity	Tier
1	AKs	67.0%	Premium
2	AQs	66.2%	Strong
3	AJs	65.4%	Strong
4	AKo	65.3%	Strong
5	ATs	64.7%	Strong
6	AQo	64.4%	Strong
7	AJo	63.6%	Medium+
8	KQs	63.4%	Medium+
9	A9s	63.1%	Medium+
10	KJs	62.6%	Medium+
11	A8s	62.2%	Medium
12	KTs	61.9%	Medium
13	A5s	61.2%	Medium
14	QJs	60.3%	Medium
15	JTs	57.5%	Speculative
16	T9s	54.1%	Speculative
17	98s	52.1%	Speculative
18	87s	50.5%	Speculative
19	76s	48.9%	Speculative
20	65s	47.4%	Speculative

Why A5s edges A6s: The wheel straight (A-2-3-4-5) adds one more nut straight possibility—small but real in combinatorics.

Suited Connectors: High Variance

Low preflop equity, high postflop ceiling.

Hand	Equity	Playability
JTs	57.5%	Broadway + straight potential
T9s	54.1%	Classic semi-speculative
98s	52.1%	Multiway value rises
87s	50.5%	Deep-stack favorite
76s	48.9%
65s	47.4%
54s	45.9%
32s	41.2%	Weakest suited connector

Suited connectors gain value in deep, multiway pots where implied odds compensate for raw equity. They lose value short-stacked or against isolation raises.

Suited Aces: Nut-Flush Potential

Hand	Equity	Special trait
AKs	67.0%	Premium
AQs–ATs	64–66%	Strong broadway
A9s–A2s	59–63%	Nut-flush potential
A5s	61.2%	Wheel straight bonus

Bottom of the Rankings

Hand	Equity	Why it fails
72o	34.6%	Worst widely cited hand—no suit, wide gap, low cards
83o	35.1%
73o	35.4%
32o	35.0%
82o	35.2%
92o	36.0%
T2o	37.8%	Trash tier
J2o	38.3%

72o isn't 0%—AA still loses to it ~12–13% of the time (runner-runner miracles). That's variance, not a license to play rags.

Context That Changes Value

Position

Acting last adds information. JTs on the button is playable; JTs under the gun is often a fold.

Opponent Count

• Heads-up / 3-way: High cards (AK, AQ) gain—fewer opponents to outdraw you.
• Multiway (4+): Small pairs and suited connectors gain—implied odds multiply.
• AA vs 3 random all-ins: Equity drops to roughly 63%; vs 8 opponents, near 33% (RiverOdds multiway tables).

Stack Depth

• 100bb+: Speculative hands (22–66, suited connectors) gain value.
• 20–40bb: High-card equity dominates; set-mining ROI collapses.

Opponent Type

Tight-aggressive opponents require premium hands. Loose-passive tables allow wider ranges—if you have postflop skill to exploit.

Tier Action Guide

Tier	Hands	Default action
1	AA, KK, QQ, AKs	Raise/4-bet any position
2	JJ, TT, AQs, AJs, AKo, KQs	Raise most spots; careful vs 3-bets
3	99–88, ATs, AQo, KJs, QJs	Raise in position; fold OOP vs heat
4	77–66, A9s–A2s, JTs, T9s	Position-dependent; set-mine or steal
5	55–22, 98s–54s	Late position, deep stacks, multiway
6	Below catalog midline	Fold; blind defense only with price

Matchups Worth Memorizing

Matchup	Favorite	Equity (approx.)
AA vs random	AA	85%
AA vs KK	AA	82%
AA vs 72o	AA	88%
QQ vs AKs	QQ	54%
22 vs AKo	22	53%
AKs vs AKo	AKs	+1.7% suited bonus

QQ vs AKs is often called a "flip" in conversation—it's not. The pair is a slight favorite, but AKs has six outs to overcards plus backdoor equity. Treat it as a race, not a lock.

Using Rankings Without Mechanical Play

Equity tables set the baseline, not the autopilot. A 57% equity hand from the button against a tight UTG open is still a fold. A 48% suited connector in a 5-way limped pot can be gold.

Three habits:

1. Memorize Tier 1–2 — your core profit hands.
2. Fold 70%+ of deals — discipline beats curiosity.
3. Adjust for context — same hand, different field, different decision.

The rankings tell you the baseline strength. Position, depth, and opponents tell you whether to play. Master both, and preflop stops feeling like guesswork.