Hand Equity Calculator: Analyze Poker Hand Matchups
Hand equity represents your probability of winning a pot based on your cards versus an opponent's cards. This free equity calculator lets you analyze any hand-versus-hand matchup in Texas Hold'em, showing precise win percentages preflop or on custom board textures. Understanding equity fundamentals is essential for making mathematically sound decisions at the poker table.
Calculate Hand Equity
Analysis based on this equity calculation...
What Is Hand Equity?
Hand equity represents the percentage of the pot you "own" based on your mathematical chance of winning. If you have 60% equity, you should win approximately 60% of the time if the hand were run to completion. This fundamental concept, documented by the Two Plus Two poker mathematics research, forms the backbone of all profitable poker decision-making.
Unlike pot odds which look at what the pot is offering, hand equity looks at what your cards are actually worth. For a complete explanation of equity concepts including fold equity and equity realization, see our Poker Equity Guide. Combining equity knowledge with pot odds calculations allows you to determine whether calling, raising, or folding maximizes your expected value in any given situation.
You hold A♠K♠ against an opponent's Q♥Q♦ preflop. Despite having no made hand yet, you have approximately 43% equity - meaning if this exact situation occurred 1000 times, you'd expect to win roughly 430 times. This equity comes from your chances of making a pair, two pair, straight, or flush.
How to Use This Calculator
Using this hand equity calculator is straightforward:
- Select your hand: Choose the rank and suit for both of your hole cards. The tool prevents duplicate card selection.
- Select opponent's hand: Enter the villain's two cards. For preflop analysis, you'll need to know (or estimate) their exact holding.
- Add board cards (optional): Leave blank for preflop equity, or enter the flop, turn, and/or river to see how equity changes as the board develops.
- Click Calculate: The calculator runs a Monte Carlo simulation to determine precise win percentages.
Use the preset buttons to quickly load common matchup scenarios like AA vs KK or the classic "coinflip" between a pair and two overcards. These illustrate fundamental equity relationships that every poker player should understand.
Classic Poker Matchups and Their Equity
Certain hand-versus-hand matchups appear frequently in poker and understanding their approximate equities helps with quick decision-making. The Card Player odds research has documented these extensively:
| Matchup Type | Example | Approximate Equity |
|---|---|---|
| Overpair vs Underpair | AA vs KK | ~82% vs ~18% |
| Pair vs Two Overcards | QQ vs AK | ~54% vs ~46% |
| Dominated Ace | AK vs AQ | ~74% vs ~26% |
| Pair vs One Overcard | JJ vs AK | ~54% vs ~46% |
| Pair vs Undercards | TT vs 98s | ~81% vs ~19% |
| Two Live Cards | KQs vs 76s | ~61% vs ~39% |
Why "Coinflips" Aren't Exactly 50/50
The classic pair-versus-two-overcards matchup is often called a "coinflip," but the pair actually has a slight edge (roughly 52-57% depending on card ranks and suits). This edge compounds over many hands, which is why tournament players often accept coinflips when they're getting odds rather than being the one gambling.
How Board Texture Affects Equity
Equity is not static - it changes dramatically as community cards are revealed. Understanding how different board textures impact hand equity is crucial for postflop decision-making, as explained in the PokerNews strategy guide on hand equity.
Flop Examples
Consider AA vs 87s on a 9♠6♠2♦ flop. Preflop, AA has ~77% equity. But this flop gives 87s a gutshot straight draw plus backdoor flush potential, shifting equity to roughly 72% vs 28%. If the flop instead came A♠K♦3♥, AA's equity jumps to over 95% as the opponent now needs running cards.
Equity Swings on Later Streets
The turn and river can create massive equity shifts. A flush completing card can take a hand from 5% equity to 100%. A paired board can give a set a full house while counterfeiting two pair. Use this calculator to explore how different runouts affect your hand's winning chances.
Using Equity in Decision Making
Knowing your equity is only valuable when combined with other information. Here's how equity integrates with poker strategy:
- Compare to pot odds: If your equity exceeds the pot odds being offered, calling is profitable. Use our pot odds calculator alongside this tool.
- Calculate EV: Equity feeds directly into expected value calculations for calls, raises, and bluffs.
- Determine bet sizing: Your equity relative to an opponent's range influences optimal bet sizes. Higher equity allows for larger value bets.
- Plan ahead: Knowing how your equity might change on different turn/river cards helps you plan your action across streets.
Hand Equity vs Range Equity
This calculator analyzes specific hand-versus-hand equity. In actual play, you rarely know your opponent's exact cards - instead, you estimate a range of possible holdings. Range equity calculations consider all hands in an opponent's range, weighted by their likelihood. While more complex, the principles remain identical.
For example, if you estimate an opponent's range is {AA, KK, QQ, AKs}, you'd calculate your equity against each hand and weight by the number of combinations (6 combos for pairs, 4 for AKs). Our hand range visualizer helps understand which hands comprise different position-based ranges.
Common Equity Concepts
Fold Equity
Fold equity refers to the additional value gained when an opponent might fold to your bet. If you have 30% hand equity but 40% fold equity (meaning opponents fold 40% of the time), your total equity in the pot increases substantially. Aggressive play generates fold equity that passive play cannot.
Dead Money
Money already in the pot from folded players is "dead money" that increases your pot equity without having to beat those players. In tournaments especially, accumulated dead money from blinds and antes makes stealing attempts profitable.
Blockers
The cards you hold "block" opponents from having those same cards. Holding the A♠ blocks opponents from having the nut flush draw, affecting both their range and your equity against that range. Blocker considerations become increasingly important in advanced play.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this equity calculator?
This calculator uses Monte Carlo simulation to determine equity through thousands of random runouts. Results are accurate to within 0.5-1% of mathematically perfect equity. For reference, poker analysis tools like PokerStove and commercial solvers use similar methodology.
Why does suited vs offsuit matter for equity?
Suited cards can make flushes, adding approximately 2-4% equity depending on the matchup. This seems small but compounds over thousands of hands. Suited connectors gain additional straight potential, making them roughly 3-5% stronger than their offsuit counterparts.
How do I estimate an opponent's hand to input?
Hand reading combines position, betting patterns, and player tendencies to narrow an opponent's range. For learning purposes, try running equity calculations against multiple possible opponent holdings to understand how your hand performs across their likely range.
What's the relationship between equity and odds?
Equity is expressed as a percentage (e.g., 60%). Odds express the same probability as a ratio (e.g., 3:2 against, meaning you'll lose 3 times for every 2 times you win). To convert: if equity is 40%, odds against are 60:40 = 3:2 = 1.5:1.
Should I always get all-in when I have more than 50% equity?
Not necessarily. Having greater than 50% equity makes you the mathematical favorite, but bankroll management, ICM in tournaments, and better spots might suggest caution. In cash games with deep stacks, maximizing EV might mean keeping opponents in rather than forcing folds.
Continue Your Poker Education
- Range Equity Analyzer - Calculate your hand's equity against entire opponent ranges
- Showdown Analyzer - Determine the winner between multiple hands at showdown
- Outs Calculator - Count outs and calculate drawing odds for incomplete hands
- Pot Odds Calculator - Determine if pot odds justify calling based on your equity
- Expected Value Calculator - Quantify the profitability of poker decisions
- Combination Calculator - Count hand combos and analyze blocker effects
- Hand Range Visualizer - Understand position-based starting hand ranges
- Poker Odds Calculator - Analyze preflop starting hand probabilities
- Poker Hand Rankings - Complete reference for hand strength hierarchy
- Texas Hold'em Guide - Master the complete rules and betting structure
Responsible Gaming Note
This calculator is provided for educational purposes to help understand poker probability and mathematics. While equity analysis forms the foundation of winning poker strategy, all forms of poker involve variance where short-term results may differ significantly from mathematical expectations. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose, and recognize that even mathematically sound decisions sometimes produce negative outcomes.