  
High Winning Hands By Rank |
Lo
Low Winning Hands By Rank |
RAZZ Winning Hands By Rank |
|
|
|
|
| 1 | •
Royal Straight Flush - five consecutive cards of the
same suit
     |
6 | •
Straight - five consecutive cards
      |
|
| 2 | •
Straight Flush - five consecutive cards of the same
suit
    |
7 | •
Three of a Kind
   |
|
| 3 | •
Four of a Kind
    |
8 | •
Two Pair
   |
|
| 4 | •
Full House - three of a kind plus a pair
  |
9 | •
Pair
   |
|
| 5 | •
Flush - five cards of the same suit
  |
10 | •
High Card
   |
| 1 | A-2-3-4-5
     |
14 | A-2-5-6-7
  |
|
| 2 | A-2-3-4-6
|
15 | A-2-5-6-8
 |
|
| 3 | A-2-3-4-7
|
16 | A-2-6-7-8
|
|
| 4 | A-2-3-4-8
|
17 | A-3-4-5-6
|
|
| 5 | A-2-3-5-6
|
18 | A-3-4-5-7
|
|
| 6 | A-2-3-5-7
|
19 | A-3-4-5-8
|
|
| 7 | A-2-3-5-8
|
20 | A-3-4-6-7
|
|
| 8 | A-2-3-6-7
|
21 | A-3-4-6-8
|
|
| 9 | A-2-3-6-8
|
22 | A-3-4-7-8
|
|
| 10 | A-2-3-7-8
|
23 | A-4-5-6-7
|
|
| 11 | A-2-4-5-6
|
24 | A-4-5-6-8
|
|
| 12 | A-2-4-5-7
|
25 | A-4-5-7-8
|
|
| 13 | A-2-4-5-8
|
26 | A-5-6-7-8
|
| 27 | 2-3-4-5-6
|
36 | 2-4-5-6-8
|
|
| 28 | 2-3-4-5-7
|
37 | 2-4-6-7-8
|
|
| 29 | 2-3-4-5-8
|
38 | 2-5-6-7-8
|
|
| 30 | 2-3-4-6-7
|
39 | 3-4-5-6-7
|
|
| 31 | 2-3-4-6-8
|
40 | 3-4-5-6-8
|
|
| 32 | 2-3-5-6-7
|
41 | 3-4-6-7-8
|
|
| 33 | 2-3-5-6-8
|
42 | 3-5-6-7-8
|
|
| 34 | 2-3-6-7-8
|
43 | 4-5-6-7-8
|
|
| 35 | 2-4-5-6-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
American Airlines,
Bullets, Pocket Rockets, Joe Louis (As-Ac), Sharp Tops, Visine (Ah-Ad),
Teepees, Alan Alda, Snake Eyes
This is the best starting hand in hold'em. |
| A - K suited | Anna Kornakovia,
Big Slick, Santa Barbara, Salt Lake Pair, Walking Back To Houston, Big
Slick In A Suit
Nicknamed 'walking back to houston' because of some players' tendency to overplay AK in no limit games. Nicknamed 'Anna Kornakovia' because it looks good but seldom wins. |
| A - K off - suit | Anna Kornakovia,
Big Slick, Santa Barbara, Salt Lake Pair, Walking Back To Houston, Big
Ugly
Nicknamed 'walking back to houston' because of some players' tendency to overplay AK in no limit games. Nicknamed 'Anna Kornakovia' because it looks good but seldom wins. |
| A - Q suited | Big Chick, Doyle Brunson (In Texas), Little Slick, Catch Of The Day |
| A - Q off - suit | Big Chick, Doyle Brunson (In Texas), Little Slick , Catch Of The Day |
| A - J suited | Ajax, Blackjack, Jackass, Apple Jacks |
| A - J off - suit | Ajax, Blackjack, Jackass, Apple Jacks |
| A - 10 suited | Book Ends, Johnny
Moss
It's speculated that Johnny Moss is associated with this hand because he began playing poker at the age of 10 |
| A - 10 off - suit | Book Ends, Johnny
Moss
It's speculated that Johnny Moss is associated with this hand because he began playing poker at the age of 10 |
| A - 9 suited | |
| A - 9 off - suit | Jesus/Chris Ferguson
Chris Ferguson beat TJ Cloutier at the final hand of the 2000 WSOP Championship event holding A9 against TJ's AQ. |
| A - 8 suited | Dead Man's Hand
"Wild Bill" Hickock held two pair, Aces and Eights, when he was fatally shot in the back by Jack McCall on August 2nd, 1876. |
| A - 8 off - suit | Dead Man's Hand
"Wild Bill" Hickock held two pair, Aces and Eights, when he was fatally shot in the back by Jack McCall on August 2nd, 1876. |
| A - 7 suited | Slap Shot
Nicknamed 'Slap Shot' as a hockey reference as sevens are sometimes called hockey sticks and aces are bullets. |
| A - 7 off - suit | Slap Shot
Nicknamed 'Slap Shot' as a hockey reference as sevens are sometimes called hockey sticks and aces are bullets. |
| A - 6 suited | No Nickname Just A Crap Hand |
| A - 6 off - suit | No Nickname Just A Crap Hand |
| A - 5 suited | High Five
A5 is a statistically better hand than A6 because of its ability to make a straight. |
| A - 5 off - suit | High Five
A5 is a statistically better hand than A6 because of its ability to make a straight. |
| A - 4 suited | Transvestite,
Plane Crash
Called Transvestite because you see the first ace, and the 4 looks like another, but it turns out not to be. |
| A - 4 off - suit | Transvestite,
Plane Crash
Called Transvestite because you see the first ace, and the 4 looks like another, but it turns out not to be. |
| A - 3 suited | Ashtray, Baskin
Robbins (31)
Nicknamed Baskin Robbins because of their 31 different flavors of ice cream. |
| A - 3 off - suit | Ashtray, Baskin
Robbins (31)
Nicknamed Baskin Robbins because of their 31 different flavors of ice cream. |
| A - 2 suited | Acey Duecy, Hunting
Season, Little Slick
Aces are known as bullets and twos are known as ducks, hence hunting season. |
| A - 2 off - suit | Acey Duecy, Hunting
Season, Little Slick
Aces are known as bullets and twos are known as ducks, hence hunting season. |
| A - K - Q - J - 10 | Broadway |
| A - K - 4 - 7 | Assault Rifle (AK - 47) |
| A - A - A | Beatles Reunion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ace Magnets,
Cowboys, Gorillas, Gorillas in the Mist, Kangaroos, King Kong
Ace Magnets because the ace is the only card you don't want to see. |
| K - Q suited | Lucy & Ricky,
Marriage, Royal Couple, Othello, Divorced
KhQh - Valentines Day Nicknamed Divorced when it doesn't hold up |
| K - Q off - suit | Lucy & Ricky,
Mixed Marriage, Othello, Divorced
Nicknamed Divorced when it doesn't hold up |
| K - J suited | Kojack, Harry Potter (JK Rowling) |
| K - J off - suit | Kojack, Bachelor's Hand, Harry Potter (JK Rowling) |
| K - 10 suited | Big Al, Katie
K-T sounds like Katie "Big Al" is a reference to a Wisconsin poker player named "Big Al" Emerson. |
| K - 10 off - suit | Big Al, Katie,
Woodcutter
K-T sounds like Katie "Big Al" is a reference to a Wisconsin poker player named "Big Al" Emerson. |
| K - 9 suited | Canine, The Dog, Fido, Pedigree, Saw Mill |
| K - 9 off - suit | Canine, The Dog, Fido, Mongrel, Saw Mill |
| K - 8 suited | Kokomo, Kate, Lumber Yard, Feast (King Ate) |
| K - 8 off - suit | Kokomo, Kate, Lumber Yard, Feast (King Ate) |
| K - 7 suited | Columbia River,
King Salmon
The Columbia River is famous for its salmon runs. "King Seven" sounds like "King Salmon" |
| K - 7 off - suit | Columbia River,
King Salmon
The Columbia River is famous for its salmon runs. "King Seven" sounds like "King Salmon" |
| K - 6 suited | |
| K - 6 off - suit | |
| K - 5 suited | |
| K - 5 off - suit | |
| K - 4 suited | Fork, Spork (Ks4s)
4K sounds like Fork. |
| K - 4 off - suit | Fork
4K sounds like Fork. |
| K - 3 suited | King Crab, Commander Crab, Seafood |
| K - 3 off - suit | King Crab, Commander Crab, Seafood |
| K - 2 suited | Big Fritz, Donald, Everest |
| K - 2 off - suit | Fritz, Donald, Everest |
| K - K - K - K | Four Horsemen, Posse |
| K - K - K | The Three Wise Men, The Alabama Night Riders, Ku Klux Klan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Bitches, Seigried
and Roy, Dames, Four Tits, Hilton Sisters, Ladies Whores, Jailhouse Rock,
Canadian Aces, Double Date, Dykes, Hookers, Mop Squeezers, Pair of
Wire Cutters (Dikes)
Unfortunately, the most common nicknames for QQ are derogatory. |
| Q - J suited | OJ (It's a killer),
Maverick, Oedipus Rex, Fred & Ethyl
Taken from Maverick TV show theme song, "Livin' on jacks and queens. Maverick is a legend of the west." Also, "Oedipus Rex" refers to a play by Greek playwright Sophocles referring to an incestuous mother and son. |
| Q - J off - suit | OJ (It's a killer),
Maverick, Oedipus Rex, Fred & Ethyl,
Pinochle (QsJd) Taken from Maverick TV show theme song, "Livin' on jacks and queens. Maverick is a legend of the west." Also, "Oedipus Rex" refers to a play by Greek playwright Sophocles referring to an incestuous mother and son. |
| Q - 10 suited | Cutie (QT), Goolsby,
Quint, Varkonyi
Robert Varkonyi won his 2002 WSOP Championship bracelet holding QT and making a boat over Julian Gardener's flush. |
| Q - 10 off - suit | Cutie (QT), Goolsby,
Quint, Varkonyi
Robert Varkonyi won his 2002 WSOP Championship bracelet holding QT and making a boat over Julian Gardener's flush. |
| Q - 9 suited | Quinine
Queen Nine sounds like Quinine, an early anti malarial drug. |
| Q - 9 off - suit | Quinine
Queen Nine sounds like Quinine, an early anti malarial drug. |
| Q - 8 suited | Kuwait
Nicknamed "Kuwait" for phonetic reasons. |
| Q - 8 off - suit | Kuwait
Nicknamed "Kuwait" for phonetic reasons. |
| Q - 7 suited | |
| Q - 7 off - suit | Computer Hand
Calculations tell us that this is the average hand. |
| Q - 6 suited | |
| Q - 6 off - suit | PB&J
That's short for "Peanut Butter and Jelly". |
| Q - 5 suited | Granny Mae
Nicknamed because granny can be a queen and May is the fifth month of the year. |
| Q - 5 off - suit | Granny Mae
Nicknamed because granny can be a queen and May is the fifth month of the year. |
| Q - 4 suited | |
| Q - 4 off - suit | |
| Q - 3 suited | Gay Waiter,
San Francisco Busboy (queen with a tray) Qh3h - Flaming Gay Waiter Windsor Waiter |
| Q - 3 off - suit | Gay Waiter,
San Francisco Busboy (queen with a tray) Windsor Waiter |
| Q - 2 suited | Daisy |
| Q - 2 off - suit | Daisy |
| Q - Q - Q | Six Tits |
| Q - Q - Q - Q | Village People |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Jaybirds, Fishhooks,
Hooks, Johnnies, Gents, Kid Dynamite,
Dyne-O-Mite (JJ from Good Times) JJ is considered the highest medium pocket pair. |
| J - 10 suited | Cloutier (play on name: T. J. Cloutier) |
| J - 10 off - suit | Cloutier (play on name: T. J. Cloutier) |
| J - 9 suited | Js9S - T.J. Cloutier (T.J. flopped three straight flushes with this hand in one year) |
| J - 9 off - suit | |
| J - 8 suited | Jeffrey Dahmer (He ate Jack), Coat (Jack-et) |
| J - 8 off - suit | Jeffrey Dahmer (He ate Jack), Coat (Jack-et) |
| J - 7 suited | Jack Daniel's (Jack Old No. 7) |
| J - 7 off - suit | Jack Daniel's (Jack Old No. 7) |
| J - 6 suited | Jack Talley, Railroad Hand |
| J - 6 off - suit | Jack Talley, Railroad Hand |
| J - 5 suited | Jackson Five, Motown |
| J - 5 off - suit | Jackson Five, Motown |
| J - 4 suited | Flat Tire (Answer to what's a jack for?), Full Employment (If you play J4, you'll always have a day job) |
| J - 4 off - suit | Flat Tire (Answer to what's a jack for?), Full Employment (If you play J4, you'll always have a day job) |
| J - 3 suited | |
| J - 3 off - suit | |
| J - 2 suited | |
| J - 2 off - suit | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Dimes, Tension |
| 10 - 9 suited | Countdown
Countdowns usually start at ten...nine.. |
| 10 - 9 off - suit | Countdown
Countdowns usually start at ten...nine.. |
| 10 - 8 suited | Tetris, Golden Dan |
| 10 - 8 off - suit | Tetris, Golden Dan |
| 10 - 7 suited | Bowling Hand
The 7-10 split in bowling is a famously tough pin setup. |
| 10 - 7 off - suit | Bowling Hand
The 7-10 split in bowling is a famously tough pin setup. |
| 10 - 6 suited | Sweet
Nicknamed so as a reference to 'Sweet Sixteen'. |
| 10 - 6 off - suit | Sweet
Nicknamed so as a reference to 'Sweet Sixteen'. |
| 10 - 5 suited | Woolworth's, Five and Dime, Dimestore |
| 10 - 5 off - suit | Woolworth's, Five and Dime, Dimestore |
| 10 - 4 suited | OK, Broderick Crawford, Good Buddy, Over and Out, Convoy, CB Hand |
| 10 - 4 off - suit | OK, Broderick Crawford, Good Buddy, Over and Out, Convoy, CB Hand |
| 10 - 3 suited | Weinberg |
| 10 - 3 off - suit | Weinberg |
| 10 - 2 suited | Doyle Brunson,
Texas Dolly
Brunson won the World Series of Poker Main Event with it twice in a row—1976 and 1977 |
| 10 - 2 off - suit | Doyle Brunson,
Texas Dolly
Brunson won the World Series of Poker Main Event with it twice in a row—1976 and 1977 |
| 10 - 10 - 10 | Thirty Miles (of Bad Road) |
| ............................................ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Popeye's, Barbara Feldon (Get Smart Agent 99), Wayne Gretzky (his jersey number), Phil Hellmuth (winning hand of the 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event), German Virgin ("nein, nein" means "no, no" in German) |
| 9 - 8 suited | Oldsmobile (98)
98 was an Oldsmobile model that was bigger than the smaller 88 model. |
| 9 - 8 off - suit | Oldsmobile (98)
98 was an Oldsmobile model that was bigger than the smaller 88 model. |
| 9 - 7 suited | |
| 9 - 7 off - suit | |
| 9 - 6 suited | Big Lick (69),
Dinner for Two, The Good Lover, Happy Meal, 2 Can Chew
Prom Night ("Sixty-nine suited") |
| 9 - 6 off - suit | Big Lick (69), Dinner for Two, The Good Lover, Happy Meal, Percy, 2 Can Chew |
| 9 - 5 suited | Dolly Parton (she sang "9 to 5"), Hard Working Man |
| 9 - 5 off - suit | Dolly Parton (she sang "9 to 5"), Hard Working Man |
| 9 - 4 suited | Gold Rush, San
Francisco (49ers)
49 refers to San Francisco's Football team, the 49ers, which in turn refers to men of the 1849 gold rush in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of San Francisco. |
| 9 - 4 off - suit | Gold Rush, San
Francisco (49ers)
49 refers to San Francisco's Football team, the 49ers, which in turn refers to men of the 1849 gold rush in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of San Francisco. |
| 9 - 3 suited | Jack Benny (play off his running gag of always being 39 years old) |
| 9 - 3 off - suit | Jack Benny (play off his running gag of always being 39 years old) |
| 9 - 2 suited | Montana Banana, Twiggy (29) |
| 9 - 2 off - suit | Montana Banana, Twiggy (29) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Snowmen, Little
Oldsmobile, Snowmen, Doggie Balls, Piano Keys, Two Fat Ladies, Racetracks,
Double Infinities, Dawg Balls
Snowmen and dog balls look like the number "8". 88 was an oldsmobile model that's smaller than the 98. |
| 8 - 7 suited | RPM (78) |
| 8 - 7 off - suit | RPM (78) |
| 8 - 6 suited | Maxwell Smart (Agent 86 in Get Smart) |
| 8 - 6 off - suit | Maxwell Smart (Agent 86 in Get Smart), Pacheco Nuts |
| 8 - 5 suited | Finky Dink |
| 8 - 5 off - suit | Finky Dink |
| 8 - 4 suited | Big Brother,
Orwell
George Orwell was the author of the book "1984". |
| 8 - 4 off - suit | Big Brother,
Orwell
George Orwell was the author of the book "1984". |
| 8 - 3 suited | Sven, Raquel
Welch (38)
Raquel Welch still claims to be 38. |
| 8 - 3 off - suit | Sven, Raquel
Welch (38)
Raquel Welch still claims to be 38. |
| 8 - 2 suited | The second worst starting hand in hold'em. |
| 8 - 2 off - suit | The second worst starting hand in hold'em. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Hockey Sticks, Candy Canes, Walking Sticks, Sunset Strip, Saturn, Mullets |
| 7 - 6 suited | Philadelphia (76ers), Trombones (from the song "76 Trombones"), Union Oil (76) |
| 7 - 6 off - suit | Philadelphia (76ers), Trombones (from the song "76 Trombones"), Union Oil (76) |
| 7 - 5 suited | Heinz, Ketchup,
Pickle Man
The Heinz company in Pittsburgh, PA has 57 varieties of condiments, the most famous being ketchup. |
| 7 - 5 off - suit | Filipino Slick,
Heinz, Ketchup, Pickle Man
The Heinz company in Pittsburgh, PA has 57 varieties of condiments, the most famous being ketchup. |
| 7 - 4 suited | Double Down, Blackjack Hand |
| 7 - 4 off - suit | Double Down, Blackjack Hand, Cambodian Slick |
| 7 - 3 suited | Hachem |
| 7 - 3 off - suit | Hachem
Joseph Hachem won the 2005 World Series main event holding 7c3s when the flop came 4d5d6h. |
| 7 - 2 suited | WHIP (Worst
Hand In Poker), The Hammer, Beer Hand
It's called the 'Beer Hand' because it's either time for a beer; or if you win with this you need to get other players a beer; or only a person full of beers would play this hand |
| 7 - 2 off - suit | WHIP (Worst
Hand In Poker), Beer Hand, Hammer
72 offsuit is the worst possible starting hand, this name implies that you should order a beer rather than attempt to play these cards. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Route 66, Cherries, Kicks |
| 6 - 5 suited | |
| 6 - 5 off - suit | |
| 6 - 4 suited | Royal Arlo, The Rabbit (6c4c) |
| 6 - 4 off - suit | Arlo |
| 6 - 3 suited | Blocky |
| 6 - 3 off - suit | Blocky, Jimmy Summerfield |
| 6 - 2 suited | Ainsworth |
| 6 - 2 off - suit | Ainsworth |
| 6 - 6 - 6 | The Beast, Satan, The Devil, Lucifer, Kotch |
| ................................................................................... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Presto, Speed Limit, Double Nickel |
| 5 - 4 suited | Jane Russell,
Jesse James, Colt 45 (both play
off the number 45), Revolver
Moneymaker (winning hand of Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion) |
| 5 - 4 off - suit | Jane Russell,
Jesse James, Colt 45 (both play
off the number 45), Revolver
Moneymaker (winning hand of Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion) |
| 5 - 3 suited | Bully Johnson (35) |
| 5 - 3 off - suit | Bully Johnson (35) |
| 5 - 2 suited | Quarter, Two
Bits, (Nicknamed because they
are synonymous with 25 cents).
Bomber (B-52 bomber) Pick up (as in 52 card pick up) |
| 5 - 2 off - suit | Quarter, Two
Bits, (Nicknamed because they
are synonymous with 25 cents).
Bomber (B-52 bomber) Pick up (as in 52 card pick up) |
| 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A | Wheel, Bicycle |
| 5 - 5 - 5 | Washington Monument |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Sailboats (looks
like two sails), Midlife Crisis, Magnum,
Dirty Harry,
Luke Skywalker ("May the fours be with you") 4s4c - Darth Vader ("Dark Side Of The Fours") |
| 4 - 3 suited | Waltz
In music, waltzes are always in 3/4 meter. |
| 4 - 3 off - suit | Waltz
In music, waltzes are always in 3/4 meter. |
| 4 - 2 suited | Solid Gold, Jack
Bauer, Lumberman's Hand
A common piece of lumber is a two by four. |
| 4 - 2 off - suit | Solid Gold, Jack
Bauer, Lumberman's Hand
A common piece of lumber is a two by four. |
| 4 - 4 - 4 | Grand Jury |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Crabs, Treys, Hooters, City Park (Two Trees) |
| 3 - 2 suited | Cupcake (frosted),
Aggie Stick, Mississippi Slick, Polish Big Slick
Derogatory terms, as 32 is the complete opposite hand of Ace-King or Big Slick, the best non-pair starting hand in hold'em. |
| 3 - 2 off - suit | Cupcake (unfrosted), Aggie Stick, Mississippi Slick, Polish Big Slick, Houta Hand (pronounced like "Hooter", named for a Native American dealer who advocates playing this hand) |
| 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 | Forest (Four Trees) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ducks, Swans, Quack Quack |
| 2 - 2 - 2 | Huey, Dewey and Louie |
|
|
|
| Straight flush, ace to five | Steel wheel |
| Four of a kind | Book, Case, Quads (e.g., "Quad Kings") |
| Four of a kind, aces | Four Pips (Each ace has one pip) |
| Full house | Full boat, Boat, Full,
Tight
(Canadian usage)
|
| Flush of hearts or diamonds | Pink, All Pink |
| Flush of clubs or spades | Blue, All Blue |
| Flush of clubs | Golf Bag, Puppy Feet, Puppy Toes, Pups |
| Straight, ten to ace | Broadway |
| Straight, ace to five | Wheel, Bicycle, Bike |
| Three of a kind | Trips (or Trip as in Ted has
trip kings.), Set
|
| Three of a kind, kings | Klan Rally, Alabama Night Riders, Three Wise Men |
| Three of a kind, sixes | Devil's hand, Mark of the Beast (referring to the Number of the Beast in the Book of Revelation) |
| Three of a kind, deuces | Huey, Dewey and Louie |
| Two pair | Two pair is commonly shorthanded as Xs
up or Xs over Ys, with the top pair as X and the bottom pair
as Y.
|
| Two pair, aces and eights | Dead man's hand (hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was shot and killed) |
| One pair, aces | Aces and spaces (a hand with one pair of aces, and nothing else. Used derogatorily, especially in games such as seven-card stud, where two pair is a typical winning hand) |
| Outside straight draw | Bobtail, Open-ended, up-and-down
|
| Outside straight flush draw | Big Bobtail |
| Inside straight draw | Gutshot, Belly buster
|
| Double inside straight draw | Double gutshot,
Double belly
buster
|
| Four cards of one suit | Busted flush, Four-flush
|
| 1 Worst, will rarely win | 5 - 5 - 5 - 3 - 2 |
| 2 | K - K - 4 - 3 - 2 |
| 3 | 2 - 2 - 7 - 6 - 5 |
| 4 | A - A - T - 9 - 8 |
| 5 | K - Q - J - T - 9 |
| 6 | K - Q - J - T - 7 |
| 7 | 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 |
| 8 | 9 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 3 |
| 9 | 9 - 7 - 6 - 5 - A |
| 10 | 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 |
| 11 | 6 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A |
| 12 Best, The Nuts | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A |
There was a need from the beginning of the poker game for some way to tell exactly which hands are weak and which are strong, which are weaker when comparing and which hands should be kept or thrown. This is why, sometime ago, there has been created a chart that explains and clarifies the hand rankings in hold'em. Each and every possible hand has been evaluated and included in this chart, and the odds for each hand, in all types of drawing situations, have been compared to the odds of similar hand and then accordingly classified. The hand grouping is made in eight distinct groups, starting from group 1, the group considered to have the highest odds and ending with group eight which is with little exceptions the group of very low hands, with very low odds, that are usually not to be played.
Also, in each group the hands are placed in order, from the ones that have been proved to be the strongest to the ones that are the weakest within that group.
The most known and appreciated chart of hands has been developed by two poker analysts and writers that have written book and analysis on poker strategies and theory. Their names are David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth and their hand grouping has been first published in the book named "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players". The Sklansky Hold'em Hand Groupings are presented below:
Group 1: A-A, K-K, Q-Q,
J-J, A-Ks
Group 2: T-T, A-Qs, A-Js,
K-Qs, A-K
Group 3: 9-9, J-Ts, Q-Js,
K-Js, A-Ts, A-Q
Group 4: T-9s, K-Q, 8-8,
Q-Ts, 9-8s, J-9s, A-J, K-Ts
Group 5: 7-7, 8-7s, Q-9s,
T-8s, K-J, Q-J, J-T, 7-6s, 9-7s, A-xs, 6-5s
Group 6: 6-6, A-T, 5-5,
8-6s, K-T, Q-T, 5-4s, K-9s, J-8s, 7-5s
Group 7: 4-4, J-9, 6-4s,
T-9, 5-3s, 3-3, 98-, 4-3s, 2-2, K-xs, T-7s, Q-8s
Group 8: 8-7, A-9, Q-9,
7-6, 4-2s, 3-2s, 9-6s, 8-5s, J-8, J-7s, 6-5, 5-4, 7-4s, K-9, T-8, 4-3
After this table has been successfully used by many experts, someone has researched for a diploma paper in the university's senior year a different hand grouping. This is based on the one above and it demonstrates it, but it also shows that it is not complete and additional hands have been added and improved. The Modified Hold'em Hand Grouping is:
Group 1: A-A K-K Q-Q J-J
A-Ks
Group 2: T-T A-Qs A-Js
K-Qs A-K
Group 3: 9-9 K-Ts Q-Js
K-Js A-Ts A-Q
Group 4: A-8s K-Q 8-8
Q-Ts A-9s A-T A-J J-Ts
Group 5: 7-7 Q-9s K-J
Q-J J-T A-7s A-6s A-5s A-4s A-3s A-2s J-9s T-9s K-9s K-T Q-T
Group 6: 6-6 J-8s 9-8s
T-8s 5-5 J-9 4-3s 7-5s T-9 3-3 9-8 6-4s 2-2 K-8s K-7s K-6s K-5s K-4s K-3s
K-2s Q-8s 4-4 8-7s 9-7s
Group 7: 8-7 5-3s A-9
Q-9 7-6s 4-2s 3-2s 9-6s 8-5s J-8 J-7s 6-5 5-4 7-4s K-9 T-8 7-6 6-5s 5-4s
8-6s