This article is a preflop equity reference chart for players who want quick number-based answers such as AA win rate or common all-in matchups. For which hands to enter with in real games, see our starting hand guide. For position-based range construction, see our preflop range guide.
The short version is this: preflop win rate is the starting strength of a hand before the flop, not the chance that the hand is guaranteed to win. Use the numbers as a reference point and combine them with position and number of opponents.
What this article does not cover
- Preflop terminology and betting flow: What Is Preflop in Poker?
- Beginner play-or-fold hand lists: Preflop Hand Selection
- Position-based opening ranges and RFI design: Preflop Hand Ranges by Position
What are preflop win rates?
Preflop win rate is a rough benchmark for how often your two hole cards will beat another hand before the flop is dealt. For example, AA has about an 85% win rate against one random hand.
But preflop win rate is not "the chance this hand will definitely win." Community cards still come on the flop, turn, and river, so even AA can lose and even 72o can win. Treat the number as a starting strength benchmark before postflop play begins.
Core starting hand equity chart
The table below shows rough heads-up equity against one random hand. It mixes pocket pairs and common non-pair hands to give a quick overview. Exact results change with opponent holdings, suit combinations, and the number of players in the pot.
| Hand | Approx. equity | How to remember it |
|---|---|---|
| AA | About 85% | Best starting hand, but still loses about 15% of the time |
| KK | About 82% | Almost as strong as it gets; beware ace-high runouts |
| About 80% | Very strong, but ace- and king-high boards are dangerous | |
| JJ | About 77% | Strong, but postflop can get awkward |
| TT | About 75% | Strong pair; watch out for overcards |
| AKs | About 67% | Best non-pair starting hand class |
| AKo | About 65% | Strong, but it often misses the flop completely |
| AQs | About 66% | Strong suited broadway |
| AQo | About 64% | Strong, but can be dominated by AK |
| KQs | About 63% | Connected with flush potential |
| 22 | About 50% | Roughly even against random, but still tricky to play |
| 72o | About 33% | Classic bottom-tier starting hand |
The key takeaway is that pocket pairs are already very strong before the flop. Strong unpaired hands such as AK matter a lot too, but they are still not as dominant as AA or KK.
Pocket pair preflop equities
A pocket pair means both hole cards share the same rank. The overview above included AA through TT, but it helps to line up the full set down to 22. High pairs such as AA, KK, and QQ are obviously powerful, but even low pairs still hold meaningful equity against a random hand.
| Hand | Vs one random hand | Key idea |
|---|---|---|
| AA | About 85% | Best preflop hand |
| KK | About 82% | Loses relative value on ace-high boards |
| About 80% | Watch out for flops with an ace or king | |
| JJ | About 77% | Strong, but many spots are uncomfortable |
| TT | About 75% | Strong upper-middle pair |
| 99 | About 72% | Overcards show up often |
| 88 | About 69% | Excellent when it flops a set |
| 77 | About 66% | Performs better on lower boards |
| 66 | About 63% | Needs more caution from early position |
| 55 | About 60% | Often played for set value |
| 44 | About 57% | Can get awkward in multiway pots |
| 33 | About 54% | Mostly a set-mining hand |
| 22 | About 50% | Roughly even against random |
Pocket pairs become very strong when they flop a set. The problem is that lower pairs are difficult to play when they miss and face boards full of overcards.
Suited hand equities
A suited hand has both hole cards in the same suit. For example, A♠ K♠ is AKs, while A♠ K♦ is AKo.
| Hand | Approx. equity | Key idea |
|---|---|---|
| AKs | About 67% | Best non-pair class |
| AQs | About 66% | Can make top pair, flushes, and straights |
| AJs | About 65% | Strong, but watch AK and AQ |
| ATs | About 64% | Easier to handle in later position |
| KQs | About 63% | Broadway strength plus flush potential |
| KJs | About 61% | Beware kicker problems |
| QJs | About 60% | Connected and playable |
| JTs | About 57% | Straight and flush potential |
| T9s | About 55% | Playable connector |
| 98s | About 54% | Works better with position |
Suited hands often gain only about two extra equity points over their offsuit versions, but that difference matters over time and also improves postflop playability.
Offsuit hand equities
Offsuit hands have two different suits. Because they lose flush potential, they usually have slightly less equity than the suited version of the same ranks.
| Hand | Approx. equity | Key idea |
|---|---|---|
| AKo | About 65% | Strong, but not a made hand |
| AQo | About 64% | Strong, but often dominated by AK |
| AJo | About 63% | Needs more care based on position and opponent |
| KQo | About 61% | Broadway hand that can still be dominated |
| KJo | About 59% | Use more carefully from earlier seats |
| QJo | About 58% | Easy hand to overplay |
| JTo | About 55% | Better from later position |
| T9o | About 52% | Noticeably weaker than T9s |
| 72o | About 33% | Classic weakest-hand example |
Offsuit broadways can be more dangerous than they look. If you hit top pair with KJo, for example, you can still lose a big pot to AK or KQ because of the kicker.
Common all-in preflop matchups
Preflop equities are easiest to visualize in all-in spots. Here are some common examples.
AA vs KK (all-in matchup)
Both players are all-in preflop. Against KK, AA has about 82% equity, which is different from its roughly 85% equity against one random hand.
AA is a big favorite against KK, but KK still wins about 18% of the time. Even kings can be cracked when an ace appears, so it is important not to think "AA always wins" before the cards run out.
AK vs QQ (near coin-flip spot)
A preflop all-in. A rough benchmark is QQ at about 57% and AK at about 43%.
This is the classic race-like matchup. QQ starts ahead as a made pair, but AK can easily catch up by pairing an ace or a king. Both hands are strong, and stack depth, position, and opponent range should still matter in real games.
| Matchup | Approx. favorite | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| AA vs KK | AA about 82% | Even kings lose a lot here |
| AA vs AKo | AA about 87% | AKo and AKs are close in class-average strength here |
| AA vs AKs | AA about 87% | AKs has flush and straight outs, but AA is still far ahead |
| KK vs AKo | KK about 70% | AK can overtake by pairing an ace |
| KK vs AKs | KK about 66% | Suited AK gains extra flush and straight runouts |
| QQ vs AK | QQ about 57% | A classic race-like spot |
| JJ vs AK | JJ about 57% | The pair is slightly ahead |
| TT vs AQ | TT about 57% | Pair versus two overcards |
| AK vs AQ | AK about 72% | AQ often loses with a weaker kicker even on ace-high boards |
| 99 vs 98s | 99 about 82% | 98s relies on straights and flushes to catch up |
Every row above is a specific hand-versus-hand matchup. AA at about 85% is the number versus one random hand, while AA at about 82% versus KK is a much more specific case. AK is strong, but against pocket pairs it often runs close to a race rather than crushing.
More players means lower equity
One of the biggest traps with preflop equity is forgetting that equity drops sharply as more opponents enter the pot.
AA is the easiest example. It is about 85% against one player, but once two or three players continue, the chance that someone makes two pair, a set, a straight, or a flush rises quickly.
| Situation | AA equity idea |
|---|---|
| Against 1 player | About 85% |
| Against 2 players | Often in the 70% range |
| Against 3 players | Often in the 60% range |
| Against 4+ players | Lower again |
That is why strong hands usually want to raise preflop and reduce the field. Limping with AA and letting too many players in wastes part of its preflop strength.
You should not choose hands by equity alone
Preflop equity is useful, but real poker decisions become worse when you rely on equity alone. Profit comes from expected value, not just raw win percentage.
Position matters
The same hand can be profitable on the button and a fold under the gun. Acting later gives you more information and makes it easier to realize your equity.
For seat names and order, see Poker Position Names Explained.
Number of opponents matters
A hand that performs well heads-up can lose value in multiway pots. Top pair type hands, in particular, get easier to outdraw when more players see the flop.
Domination matters
AQ is a strong hand, but it is in serious trouble against AK. Even when both hands pair an ace, AQ can still lose because of the kicker. That is what players mean by a hand being dominated.
Postflop playability matters
Suited connectors such as JTs and T9s do not sit at the very top of the raw equity list. Still, they can win big pots when they make straights and flushes, especially when you have position.
How beginners should use equity numbers
Beginners do not need to memorize every exact number. It is often more practical to group hands into broad equity buckets.
| Equity bucket | Example hands | Basic approach |
|---|---|---|
| 80%+ | AA, KK, QQ | Raise strongly and get value preflop |
| 65-79% | JJ, TT, AK, AQ | Strong, but still respect board texture and action |
| 55-64% | KQ, QJ, medium pairs | Playability depends heavily on position |
| 50-54% | Small pairs, connectors | Think in terms of sets, draws, and postflop plans |
| Under 40% | 72o and similar trash | Usually fold |
If you only remember three things at first, make them these: AA, KK, QQ, and AK are strong, weak offsuit hands should not be overplayed, and small pairs are hard to handle when they do not flop a set.
FAQ
What is the preflop win rate of AA?
AA has about 85% equity against one random hand. As more players enter the pot, that number drops, and postflop runouts can still beat it.
What is the preflop win rate of AK?
AKs is about 67% and AKo is about 65% against one random hand. Both are very strong, but against pocket pairs they are often closer to a race than many beginners expect.
Can you win by playing only high-equity hands?
Playing strong hands is important, but it is not enough by itself. Position, raise sizing, opponent tendencies, and postflop decisions all affect the final result.
Is 72o really that weak?
Yes. 72 offsuit is a classic bottom-tier starting hand. It rarely makes strong straights or flushes, and even when it makes top pair, the kicker is usually poor.
Summary
- Preflop win rate is a number-based shortcut for hand strength. AA is about 85%, KK about 82%, QQ about 80%, and AKs about 67% against one random hand.
- Knowing common all-in matchups such as AA vs KK or AK vs QQ helps you make better sense of real decisions.
- As more players enter the pot, even premium hands lose equity. Raising preflop often helps by narrowing the field.
- In real games, equity must be combined with position, player count, domination, and postflop playability.
Start by raising confidently with strong hands and avoiding the mistake of overplaying weak offsuit holdings. You do not need to memorize every number. Think in terms of broad strength tiers and a few benchmark matchups, then apply them little by little in real play.
