The Strongest Opening Hands in Poker

To be a successful poker player, you must carefully choose the hands you want to play with, whether to bluff, pay a bet, or go All-In.

If you don't know what the strongest opening hands in poker are, keep reading our article, and we will explain the 10 strongest opening hands in poker. If you receive these strong opening hands from the dealer, your odds of winning (when we are in the pre-flop stage – the first round of betting) will probably be higher than the other players at the table.

The Ten Strongest Poker Hands to Start With

Number 1 : Pocket Aces (A-A)

Without too much explanation, when you get pocket aces from the dealer, you hold the strongest opening hand in poker. A pair of aces is dominant over any other pair and certainly over hands like A-K or A-Q.

What are the odds of winning with a pair of Aces pre-flop against?

• Ace-King (A-K), the odds are 92%.
• Pair of Kings (K-K), the odds are 81%.
• 8-9 suited connectors, the odds are 77%.

Number 2 : Pocket Kings (K-K)

Pocket kings are the second strongest opening hand in poker. You should play pocket kings in almost every situation. It is not recommended to choose a slow play strategy with pocket kings because an Ace card on the flop can make you lose the advantage in the hand. When playing with pocket kings, you will be favorites against all hands except a pair of aces (A-A).

What are the odds of winning with a pair of Kings pre-flop against?

• Any pair except the pair of Aces (A-A), the odds are 80%.
• Ace-King (A-K), the odds are 70%.
• 9-10 suited connectors, the odds are 78%.

Number 3 : Pocket Queens (Q-Q)

Pocket Queens are the third strongest opening hand in poker. This hand is dominant over most hands, such as a pair of Jacks (J-J), a pair of Tens (10-10), or A-Q, but not dominant at all against a pair of aces (A-A) or a pair of Kings (K-K). It is recommended to make a high bet to learn which of the players might hold a stronger pair or maybe A-K.

What are the odds of winning with a pair of Queens pre-flop against?

• Pair of Jacks, the odds are 81%.
• Ace-King (A-K), the odds are 57%.
• Queen-Jack (Q-J), the odds are 88%.

Number 4 : Pocket Jacks (J-J)

Pocket Jacks are the fourth strongest opening hand in poker, yet it is one of the hardest premium hands to play in poker. A pair of Jacks is dominant over every pair from pair of Tens (10-10) and below. But despite this, it is important to remember that there is still a 57% chance that a card higher than a Jack will open on the flop, like an Ace, Kings, or Queens, which will make it difficult for you to understand your hand situation. It is important not to hold this hand at any cost; if you receive a 3-bet on the first betting round – Pre Flop (First Street), it might be easier to fold the hand.

What are the odds of winning with a pair of Jacks pre-flop against?

• Pairs lower than Jacks, the odds are 80%.
• Ace-King, the odds are 57%.
• 7-8 suited connectors, the odds are 78%.

 Number 5 : Ace-King Suited (A-Ks)

The fifth strongest opening hand in poker is Ace-King Suited (A-Ks). Ace-King suited is one of the most favorite hands of experienced poker players. The strength of the hand depends on the flop that will open, and even if you are running against most pocket pairs, your odds of winning with A-Ks are almost 50%, like the odds when flipping a coin. With A-Ks, it is possible to put together the strongest winning hands combination in poker, such as a Royal Flush or a Flush Nut.

What are the odds of winning with an Ace-King pre-flop against?

• Any pair of cards that include an Ace, the odds are 73%.
• 8-9 suited connectors, the odds are 62%.
• Any pairs lower than Jacks, the odds are 48% (Flip Coin).

Number 6 : Pocket Tens (10-10)

Pocket Tens are the sixth strongest opening hand in poker. A pair of Tens (10-10) is dominant against any pair lower than Tens, but almost worthless against pairs higher than ten. If you receive pocket tens, play this hand very carefully and don't make high bets that will commit you to play the hand till the end.

What are the odds of winning with a pair of tens pre-flop against?

• Pairs higher than pair of 10, the odds are 19%.
• Pairs that are lower than pair of 10, the odds are 81%.
• Ace-King, the odds are 57%.