The Top 5 Hands in Limit Texas Hold’ Em

One of the problems that arise when players try to rank hands by strength is that after the first few hands, the lines become so blurred that it’s practically impossible to rank a hand without placing it into a very specific situation.

For instance, in a heads-up situation I’ll take A9 over 45s: However, if we change the situation to three limpers, I’ll take the 45s hand. And this scenario will play itself out for numerous hands, in numerous situations. It’s the classic 89s vs. AK vs. 44 scenario: You pick one of those hands and I’ll be able to pick a hand that is favored to beat you: 44 is favored over AK; 89s is favored over 44; AK is favored over 89s.

In this article I’ll take a look at the top 5 hands in Limit Texas Hold’ Em, which are in my opinion the only five hands that can be set in stone in strength. All other hand-rankings are situational.

AA

• Winning percentage vs. a random hand 85%
• Winning percentage vs. a random top 40 hand 83%
• Winning percentage vs. 3 random top 40 hands 56%
• Big hand potential on the flop: 11% to flop a set

KK

• Winning percentage vs. a random hand 82%
• Winning percentage vs. a random top 40 hand 78%
• Winning percentage vs. 3 random top 40 hands 50%
• Big hand potential on flop: 11% to flop a set
• KK will run into pocket Aces about 5% of the time in a 10-handed game
• The flop will contain an Ace 22% of the time (11% of those times you will flop a set)

QQ

• Winning percentage vs. a random hand 80%
• Winning percentage vs. a random top 40 hand 72%
• Winning percentage vs. 3 random top 40 hands 44%
• Big hand potential on flop: 11% to flop a set
• QQ will run into pocket Aces or Kings about 10% of the time in a 10-handed game
• The flop will contain an Ace or a King 31% of the time (11% of those times you will flop a set)

JJ

• Winning percentage vs. a random hand 77%
• Winning percentage vs. a random top 40 hand 66%
• Winning percentage vs. 3 random top 40 hands 38%
• Big hand potential on flop: 11% to flop a set.
• JJ will flop an over-pair or three-of-a-kind 53% of the time

AKs

• Winning percentage vs. a random hand 67%
• Winning percentage vs. a random top 40 hand 61%
• Winning percentage vs. 3 random top 40 hands 35%
• Big hand potential on flop: three-of-a-kind/full house/straight/flush/nut-Flush Draw 14%