In Texas Hold’em with 9 players, small pairs (22-66) have win rates of 30%-40%, and suited connectors (5♠ 6♠, 7♥ 8♥) have 20%-25%.
Starting with pocket pairs at a 9-player table:
AA, KK, and QQ: These are premium hands with a win rate close to 70%. Regardless of your position at the table, treat these hands as super strong.
JJ, TT, 99: These medium pairs have a win rate around 50%, slightly above JD + JJ. They can be played in mid to late positions but be cautious with large bets.
88, 77, 66, and so on: Pairs below these have a declining win rate. Best played in late positions or if you can see a cheap flop. Look for opportunities to hit a set on the flop.
Next are suited connectors:
10♠ J♠, 9♥ 10♥: Any hand with straight or flush potential is good here, with about a 40% win rate. Can be played in late positions or with multiple callers for good pot odds.
7♦ 8♦: Another common hand that performs well in multi-way pots because when these hands hit, they can create large pots.
Big suited Aces:
A♠ K♠, A♣ Q♣, A♦ J♦: Win rate of 45%-55%; solid hands in any position. If the flop pairs or you have a flush draw, these are big winners.
A 10 suited, A9: Slightly weaker but still acceptable in mid to late positions.
Big offsuit cards:
A♠ K♦, K♣ Q♥ — Win rate of 50%-60% (aggressively bet from any position)
Q♦ J♠, J♣ 10♥: Play these hands between late and average positions, with a win rate around 45%.
First, let’s look at some real historical examples. Despite bad luck, pocket AA achieved a 77% overall win rate for the first time at a full table in the 2019 WSOP.
In a high-stakes game in 2017, Tom Dwan won another huge pot with the same hand 8♠9♠. Suited connectors are more valuable in these multi-way pots, even though their expected win rate is about 30% (or any other possible number), they occur less frequently.
Professional player Daniel Negreanu’s famous poker quote stands out: “Poker, ultimately, isn’t about what you get dealt, but how you play your cards.”
Win rates of weaker poker hands
Starting with small pairs:
22, 33, and 44: These small pairs win about one-third to two-fifths of the time (mainly applicable to a full table with nine players). There is about an 11.8% chance of hitting a set on the flop.
For low suited connectors:
5♠ 6♠, 4♥ 5♥: These hands have similar win rates, possibly slightly higher, around a quarter of the time. You have a 4.6% chance of hitting a straight by the river and about a 6.5% chance of hitting a flush!
6♦ 7♦, 7♣ 8♣: Win rate is slightly over a quarter, but the chances of hitting a straight and flush are about half to three-quarters as good.
Low unsuited connectors:
5♠ 6♦, 4♥ 5♣: These hands win in several parts, about three-quarters of the time. You have a 4.6% chance of hitting a straight by the river, but no flush potential, making these hands very difficult to play.
6♦ 7♠, hand range: (188): Win rate is between 20%-25%.
For low one-gap suited connectors:
6♠ 8♥, 5♦ 7♥ ~ These hands win about 20-25% of the time. The flush probability remains at 6.5%, and the straight probability by the river is about 3.2%.
7♦ 9♦, 8♣ 10♣: Slightly higher win rate, around ~25% to/~30%. (Reason: better straight possibilities)
Considering low suited Aces:
A♠ 2♠, A♥ 3♥ – These hands win about ~30-35%. The probability of hitting a flush by the river is 6.5%, and the probability of hitting two pairs or a set is about 26.9%.
A♦ 4♦, A♣ 5♣: Similar win rates around 30%-35%, with the same probabilities for hitting a flush and better hands.
Historical context:
Phil Hellmuth demonstrated the power of low suited connectors in the 2020 WSOP. Most notably, Hellmuth played 5♠6♠ almost perfectly, eventually winning a large pot… initially, its win rate was only about 20%.
Betting strategies for specific hands in multi-player poker
Pocket pairs
For AA, KK, and QQ: Pre-flop: Always raise. In $1/$2 blinds, a typical raise amount might be $10-$12. Post-flop: Continue betting if the board doesn’t show straight or flush potential. Bet about 75% of the pot size ($15 in a $20 pot).
JJ-TT-99: Pre-flop – Raise $8-$10 in a $1/$2 game. Post-flop: Be cautious if high cards appear. If the flop is low, bet 50%-70% of the pot ($10-$14 in a $20 pot).
22-88: Pre-flop – Call or raise small ($6-$8) if possible; if the table is passive and you are in late position. Post-flop: Bet or call only if you hit a set. If not, check or fold.
Suited connectors
10♠ J♠, 9♥ 10♥: Pre-flop, raise or call depending on position and table dynamics. The raise amount might be $8-$10. Post-flop: If you pair or have a draw, bet 60%-70% of the pot ($12-$14 in a $20 pot).
6♦ 7♦ (suited connectors), 7♣ 8♣: Pre-flop – Call or raise small ($6-$8). If you have a strong draw or pair, bet or raise (50-60% of the pot – $10-$12 in a $20 pot).
Big suited Aces
A♠ K♠, A♣ Q♣: Raise aggressively pre-flop, typically $10-$12. Post-flop: If you pair or have a draw, bet or raise $15 (75% of the $20 pot).
A♦ J♦, A♥ 10♥: Pre-flop raise $8-$10. Post-flop: Bet or call if you pair or have a strong draw, around 60-70% of the pot ($12-$14 in a $20 pot). These hands can beat all straights but are slightly weaker compared to AK or AQ.
Small suited Aces
A♠ 2♠, A♥ 3♥: Pre-flop: Call or raise small ($6-$8). Post-flop: Bet or raise if you have a draw or two pairs, 50%-60% of the pot ($10-$12 in a $20 pot).
A♦ 4♦, A♣ 5♣: Same strategy pre-flop, call or raise small ($6-$8). Post-flop: Bet or call if you have a draw or two pairs, 50%-60% of the pot ($10-$12 in a $20 pot).
Low unsuited connectors
Pre-flop: Call or raise small ($6-$8). 5♠ 6♦, 4♥ 5♣ post-flop: Bet or raise if you have a strong draw, 50-60% of the pot ($10-$12 in a $20 pot).
6♦ 7♠, 7♥ 8♦: Pre-flop: Same play; call or raise small ($6-$8). Post-flop: Bet if you have a draw or pair, around half to three-quarters of the pot ($10-$12 in a $20 pot).