Hand Strength Score Calculator
This calculator provides a comprehensive 0-100 strength score for any Texas Hold'em starting hand. Rather than memorizing complex hand charts, you can quickly evaluate any hand's quality based on multiple factors including card ranks, suitedness, connectivity, and positional context. The score system translates abstract hand quality into an intuitive single number.
Understanding starting hand strength is fundamental to profitable poker play. According to research published in Artificial Intelligence journal, pre-flop hand selection accounts for a significant portion of expected value in poker, with position and hand quality being the two most important pre-flop factors. This tool combines these elements into a single actionable metric.
Calculate Your Hand Strength
Quick Presets
Score Breakdown
Strategy Hint
AKs is a premium hand playable from any position. Open-raise for value and be willing to 3-bet or 4-bet. This hand has excellent playability post-flop due to high card strength and flush potential.
Understanding the Score System
The hand strength score condenses multiple evaluation factors into a single 0-100 metric. Higher scores indicate stronger hands that can be played profitably from more positions. The scoring algorithm is based on equity calculations and positional value research, similar to methodologies used in poker training software. According to the Upswing Poker strategy guides, pre-flop hand selection is where most recreational players lose the most money.
| Score Range | Rating | Example Hands | Recommended Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85-100 | Premium | AA, KK, QQ, AKs, AKo | Open from any position, 3-bet/4-bet for value |
| 70-84 | Strong | JJ, TT, AQs, KQs, AJs | Open from most positions, 3-bet selectively |
| 55-69 | Playable | 99, 88, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs | Open from middle to late position |
| 40-54 | Marginal | 77, 66, A9s, KTo, QTo, T9s | Play from late position or as steals |
| 0-39 | Weak | J7o, 85o, 72o, 93o | Generally fold, except blind defense |
Score Components Explained
Base Rank Value
The foundation of the score comes from card ranks. Aces contribute the most value, followed by Kings, Queens, and so on. Pocket pairs receive a significant bonus because they can make strong hands (sets) that are difficult for opponents to detect. The base value follows equity research showing that higher cards win more often in showdowns.
Suitedness Bonus
Suited hands receive a 3-5 point bonus because they can make flushes. According to PokerNews research, suited hands have approximately 2-4% more equity than their offsuit counterparts. This translates to significant long-term value, especially for hands that might otherwise be marginal. Suited connectors like 76s gain the most from this bonus due to combined flush and straight potential.
Connectivity Bonus
Connected cards (like JT, 98, or 87) receive bonus points for their straight-making potential. The closer the cards, the higher the bonus. One-gap hands (like J9 or T8) receive a smaller bonus, while two-gap hands receive minimal benefit. According to the Two Plus Two poker forums, connectivity becomes especially valuable in deep-stacked situations where implied odds allow you to win big pots when you hit.
Position Modifier
Late position players can profitably play weaker hands because they act last post-flop, gaining information about opponent actions. The button receives the highest position bonus (+8 points), while early positions receive penalties. This aligns with research from the Card Player magazine showing that button players win significantly more than early position players with equivalent hands.
Gap Penalty
Cards with gaps between them (like K9, Q8, J7) receive penalties because they make fewer straights. A one-card gap (K9) receives a small penalty, while larger gaps receive progressively larger penalties. Hands like K4 or Q5 have very limited straight potential, reducing their overall playability.
Important Considerations
The hand strength score is a pre-flop evaluation tool. Post-flop, hand strength depends entirely on the board texture. A hand with a score of 60 might become the nuts on a favorable flop, while AA (score 100) can become nearly worthless on a bad board. Use this tool to improve pre-flop decisions, but always reassess after the flop. Learn more about post-flop evaluation in our Reading the Board guide.
Position-Based Opening Ranges
Different positions require different minimum scores for opening. These thresholds come from game theory research and are used by professional players and poker training sites. You can learn more about position in our detailed Poker Position guide.
| Position | Minimum Score | Approx. % of Hands | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTG | 70+ | ~12% | Tightest range, premium focus |
| UTG+1 / MP | 65+ | ~15% | Slightly wider, add strong broadway |
| Hijack | 58+ | ~20% | Add suited connectors, medium pairs |
| Cutoff | 50+ | ~27% | Wide range, stealing potential |
| Button | 42+ | ~40% | Widest opening range, position advantage |
| Small Blind | 55+ | ~22% | Tighter than BTN due to positional disadvantage |
Practical Applications
Use the hand strength score to build intuition about hand quality. Over time, you'll develop a sense for which hands are playable from which positions without needing to consult charts. The score provides a framework for understanding why certain hands are better than others.
- Pre-flop Decisions: Compare your score against position thresholds to decide whether to open, call, or fold. Hands scoring 15+ points above threshold are good 3-bet candidates.
- Range Construction: Build opening ranges by including all hands above your position's threshold. Use our Hand Range Visualizer to see these ranges visually.
- Understanding Opponents: Estimate opponent hand strength based on their position and action. A UTG open likely has a score of 70+, while a button open might be as low as 40.
- Blind Defense: In the big blind, you can defend with lower-scoring hands (35+) due to pot odds, but avoid dominated hands with large gap penalties.
Limitations of Hand Scoring
While hand strength scores provide valuable guidance, they don't capture every relevant factor:
- Opponent Tendencies: Against loose players, you can play tighter and value bet more. Against tight players, you can bluff more with marginal hands. Adjust your thresholds based on table dynamics.
- Stack Depth: Deep stacks favor suited connectors and speculative hands (which can score lower), while short stacks favor high-card strength. Read more in our SPR Calculator guide.
- Game Type: Tournament play often requires tighter ranges than cash games, especially near the bubble. See our Tournament Strategy guide for adjustments.
- Multi-way Pots: When multiple players have entered the pot, speculative hands gain value while dominated hands lose value.
Comparing Hand Types
Understanding why certain hand types score differently helps build poker intuition. The scoring system reflects real equity calculations validated by poker solvers and simulation software.
| Hand Type | Score Range | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Pairs (AA-JJ) | 80-100 | Already made hand, dominate lower pairs | Vulnerable to sets, straights, flushes |
| Medium Pairs (TT-77) | 58-72 | Set mining potential, clear post-flop decisions | Often facing overcards, hard to play |
| Broadway Suited (AKs-JTs) | 65-95 | High card strength, flush/straight potential | Miss most flops, dominated by premium pairs |
| Suited Connectors (98s-54s) | 38-52 | Great implied odds, disguised strength | Low showdown value, need deep stacks |
| Offsuit Broadway (AKo-QJo) | 55-90 | High card strength, dominate worse aces/kings | No flush potential, often split pots |
Related Tools & Resources
The hand strength score works best when combined with other analytical tools:
- Hand Range Visualizer - See opening ranges as a visual 13x13 matrix
- Preflop Trainer - Quiz yourself on position-based opening decisions
- Poker Odds Calculator - Calculate pre-flop win percentages
- Hand Equity Calculator - Compare specific hands against each other
- Expected Value Calculator - Analyze decision profitability
- Combination Calculator - Understand hand combos and blockers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does AKs score higher than QQ?
In this scoring system, AKs and QQ score very close (both 90+). While QQ is already a made hand, AKs has flush potential and makes the nut straight. All-in pre-flop, QQ is slightly favored heads-up, but AKs plays better post-flop in many scenarios due to its versatility.
Should I always follow the score thresholds?
No. Thresholds provide baseline guidance, but adjust based on game dynamics. Against passive opponents, you can open wider. Against aggressive 3-bettors, tighten up. The score helps you understand relative hand strength, but poker requires adapting to specific situations.
Why do small pairs score lower than I expected?
Small pairs (22-66) score in the 40-55 range because they rarely make strong hands without hitting a set. With approximately 11.8% chance of flopping a set, they need good implied odds to be profitable. From early position where you face many players behind, the risk often outweighs the reward.
How does this compare to Sklansky hand rankings?
The Sklansky-Chubukov rankings group hands into 8 tiers, while this scoring provides more granular differentiation. Both systems agree on premium hands but may differ slightly on marginal hands. This score also incorporates position, which Sklansky's original system did not.