One of the most important aspects of Texas hold 'em strategy is the selection of which starting hands to play, and which to fold immediately. The following is a table of the probability of a given starting hand to win or tie, win, and tie, given a 10-player game, which is the most popular number of players at most online casino sites.
Hand Win or Tie % Win % Tie %
AA 31.93480% 31.46286% 0.47194%
KK 26.83660% 26.23474% 0.60190%
QQ 23.01090% 22.24473% 0.76616%
AKs 22.13730% 20.23529% 1.90197%
AQs 20.81820% 18.65228% 2.16591%
JJ 20.15480% 19.23018% 0.92457%
KQs 19.90920% 17.79640% 2.11280%
AJs 19.86350% 17.42540% 2.43813%
ATs 19.19360% 16.47304% 2.72055%
KJs 19.04990% 16.68498% 2.36493%
AK 18.70360% 16.74212% 1.96145%
QJs 18.65880% 16.26659% 2.39226%
KTs 18.45430% 15.83178% 2.62251%
JTs 18.13730% 15.41006% 2.72720%
QTs 18.10910% 15.46437% 2.64476%
TT 18.02890% 16.93106% 1.09785%
AQ 17.17460% 14.91723% 2.25737%
A9s 17.17010% 14.49430% 2.67578%
A8s 16.64060% 13.79076% 2.84980%
KQ 16.42760% 14.24008% 2.18753%
T9s 16.37900% 13.72587% 2.65313%
K9s 16.31920% 13.84134% 2.47789%
99 16.30630% 15.45238% 0.85390%
A7s 16.21830% 13.22384% 2.99444%
AJ 16.08400% 13.53708% 2.54691%
J9s 16.03980% 13.51426% 2.52549%
Q9s 15.96340% 13.52106% 2.44237%
A6s 15.86780% 12.75819% 3.10963%
A5s 15.68950% 12.65281% 3.03671%
KJ 15.41940% 12.95078% 2.46859%
A4s 15.33520% 12.46856% 2.86662%
AT 15.29240% 12.45305% 2.83931%
88 15.17130% 14.32132% 0.85002%
QJ 15.16960% 12.67192% 2.49766%
T8s 15.13030% 12.45303% 2.67732%
K8s 15.11150% 12.49239% 2.61908%
A3s 15.03090% 12.37481% 2.65608%
A2s 14.76110% 12.26935% 2.49176%
98s 14.75050% 12.40754% 2.34294%
J8s 14.74350% 12.18468% 2.55879%
JT 14.73080% 11.88102% 2.84980%
K7s 14.72100% 11.98725% 2.73376%
KT 14.70620% 11.96359% 2.74260%
Q8s 14.66350% 12.15778% 2.50573%
QT 14.52880% 11.77576% 2.75308%
K6s 14.37830% 11.55882% 2.81943%
77 14.31580% 13.47228% 0.84349%
87s 14.08920% 11.77052% 2.31872%
K5s 13.98720% 11.30092% 2.68628%
T7s 13.89890% 11.20491% 2.69401%
97s 13.84020% 11.47851% 2.36170%
K4s 13.65930% 11.14843% 2.51083%
Q7s 13.61730% 10.97920% 2.63807%
66 13.57590% 12.72120% 0.85469%
J7s 13.53900% 10.93570% 2.60331%
76s 13.52580% 11.22984% 2.29598%
K3s 13.34220% 11.04167% 2.30056%
55 13.33220% 12.59915% 0.73303%
Q6s 13.29840% 10.58214% 2.71624%
86s 13.20640% 10.87079% 2.33556%
65s 13.16460% 10.90764% 2.25696%
K2s 13.12950% 10.99240% 2.13707%
A9 13.08470% 10.28156% 2.80313%
44 13.01550% 12.46479% 0.55072%
T9 12.94860% 10.17029% 2.77834%
Q5s 12.93890% 10.35467% 2.58418%
T6s 12.76570% 10.01862% 2.74708%
33 12.76400% 12.39059% 0.37343%
96s 12.75880% 10.38632% 2.37247%
22 12.61960% 12.39753% 0.22209%
Q4s 12.61940% 10.23550% 2.38391%
75s 12.56900% 10.45531% 2.11370%
J6s 12.56180% 9.83763% 2.72417%
A8 12.48820% 9.49892% 2.98929%
J9 12.44020% 9.79630% 2.64391%
K9 12.37420% 9.78946% 2.58473%
Q3s 12.32070% 10.15321% 2.16746%
64s 12.21580% 10.18209% 2.03374%
J5s 12.20100% 9.60550% 2.59546%
Q9 12.18950% 9.63359% 2.55587%
54s 12.16440% 10.23005% 1.93439%
Q2s 12.08480% 10.08101% 2.00375%
85s 11.99770% 9.84414% 2.15352%
A7 11.99010% 8.84943% 3.14066%
J4s 11.89190% 9.50786% 2.38399%
T5s 11.75370% 9.08887% 2.66481%
J3s 11.61290% 9.43700% 2.17588%
A6 11.59240% 8.33405% 3.25832%
95s 11.55410% 9.32730% 2.22676%
T8 11.53570% 8.72841% 2.80734%
74s 11.45170% 9.54399% 1.90772%
A5 11.40240% 8.22238% 3.18004%
T4s 11.39980% 8.92939% 2.47044%
J2s 11.36300% 9.35882% 2.00421%
98 11.25480% 8.81045% 2.44431%
53s 11.22720% 9.49811% 1.72908%
T3s 11.12720% 8.87717% 2.25000%
63s 11.08480% 9.25127% 1.83354%
K8 11.04890% 8.30006% 2.74881%
A4 11.02470% 8.03713% 2.98757%
J8 10.99890% 8.31616% 2.68269%
T2s 10.89210% 8.80689% 2.08522%
84s 10.87920% 8.90157% 1.97763%
Q8 10.77110% 8.13968% 2.63146%
A3 10.69440% 7.93229% 2.76211%
43s 10.62540% 9.12949% 1.49595%
87 10.60540% 8.18428% 2.42112%
K7 10.60180% 7.72674% 2.87506%
94s 10.58740% 8.47645% 2.11099%
A2 10.41740% 7.82941% 2.58802%
73s 10.31080% 8.59235% 1.71849%
93s 10.28610% 8.36582% 1.92032%
97 10.27340% 7.79742% 2.47593%
K6 10.22730% 7.26327% 2.96407%
T7 10.20640% 7.36952% 2.83684%
52s 10.15150% 8.60822% 1.54332%
76 10.09660% 7.70510% 2.39149%
92s 10.05860% 8.31394% 1.74462%
62s 9.98810% 8.33115% 1.65697%
83s 9.93210% 8.07653% 1.85554%
K5 9.79600% 6.96855% 2.82746%
42s 9.78250% 8.46598% 1.31647%
65 9.73340% 7.38419% 2.34922%
J7 9.72810% 6.97490% 2.75319%
82s 9.69380% 7.98873% 1.70505%
86 9.68630% 7.24179% 2.44451%
Q7 9.63080% 6.84476% 2.78603%
K4 9.43920% 6.81414% 2.62511%
72s 9.40840% 7.76485% 1.64356%
32s 9.28800% 8.19816% 1.08984%
Q6 9.27820% 6.40618% 2.87199%
K3 9.12540% 6.72024% 2.40520%
96 9.10590% 6.61017% 2.49573%
75 9.07670% 6.86374% 2.21300%
T6 9.00160% 6.11299% 2.88864%
K2 8.86450% 6.64537% 2.21917%
Q5 8.85860% 6.14148% 2.71708%
64 8.75160% 6.61104% 2.14055%
J6 8.67600% 5.79279% 2.88325%
54 8.67360% 6.64616% 2.02740%
Q4 8.50760% 6.00276% 2.50486%
85 8.42560% 6.16158% 2.26402%
J5 8.25770% 5.52029% 2.73737%
Q3 8.21040% 5.92786% 2.28253%
Q2 7.96550% 5.86544% 2.10007%
J4 7.91740% 5.40057% 2.51682%
T5 7.91100% 5.09783% 2.81312%
74 7.86100% 5.85928% 2.00170%
95 7.83550% 5.48685% 2.34862%
53 7.71440% 5.89729% 1.81711%
J3 7.61250% 5.31675% 2.29571%
63 7.55360% 5.63540% 1.91816%
T4 7.54190% 4.92940% 2.61255%
J2 7.37860% 5.26787% 2.11070%
T3 7.24540% 4.85753% 2.38790%
84 7.20810% 5.13345% 2.07469%
43 7.10770% 5.54932% 1.55833%
T2 7.01190% 4.80990% 2.20196%
94 6.80420% 4.56831% 2.23589%
73 6.67290% 4.85805% 1.81488%
52 6.55670% 4.93851% 1.61821%
93 6.47410% 4.45015% 2.02393%
62 6.36790% 4.63616% 1.73172%
92 6.23610% 4.40297% 1.83317%
83 6.20760% 4.24403% 1.96354%
42 6.19720% 4.81994% 1.37721%
82 5.94890% 4.15664% 1.79227%
72 5.72770% 4.00128% 1.72641%
32 5.66840% 4.53011% 1.13831%
Starting cards
High Pairs: Pairs from Aces to Tens are always a good starting hand, you have the chance to improve on them, and even if the board doesn't help, you can still win with the highest pair.
Middle pairs: They have very little strength, and cannot usually win without improvement. If it is not expensive, wait to see the flop and what possible drawing possibilities are there. If opponents are betting aggressively then fold. Possibilities are straight and flush draws.
High Cards: Two unsuited high cards should usually be played at least to the flop. The chances are that if you flop a pair you will have the best pair on the table. Suited high cards should be played more often, as a high card flush is now possible.
Suited: If your two cards are suited, don't overrate them. A Nine hearts, with a Eight hearts, is open ended and slightly better than Ten hearts with Seven hearts, as the gap reduces your chances of hitting the straight. In a strong pot fold. Ace or King suited with a small card, should be treated cautiously in the same way as gap straights. Ace with 2, 3, 4,or 5 is better as the possible low straight still exists.
After the flop
Bet or call most of your drawing hands, if you have a four card flush or four card straight. Everyone may fold, or you may hit it.
If you don't have a drawing hand after the flop fold.
If the flop goes against your high pairs, and shows possible flush or straight, fold, especially if there is heavy betting.
When you hit a flush or straight, be aware of the possibilities of other players having the same hand but higher. If there is heavy betting, it is probable that someone else has hit it as well.
If you have 2 pair, or 3 of a kind, and after the flop, and there a two suited cards in the flop, bet to knock a player off a flush draw, the same is true for connector cards (possibly making a straight) the goal being to keep players from seeing cards that may help them and not you.
