Poker
Poker is the one game on this site where the edge can be yours, because you play against people, not the house. The house still takes rake, so winning means beating both your opponents and the fee. Step one is knowing the numbers cold, and they are all below.
This section covers Texas Hold'em math that actually gets used at the table: which hands to play, what the classic all-ins really run, how often draws get there, and what rake does to win rates. For exact numbers on any matchup, run the free equity calculator: pick two hands, add a board, and it simulates the hand thousands of times in your browser.
Classic all-in matchups
| Matchup | Preflop equity | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| AA vs KK | ~82% / 18% | The classic cooler. Even the best hand loses one time in five. |
| QQ vs AK offsuit | ~57% / 43% | The "coin flip" that is not quite a coin flip. Pairs edge overcards. |
| AK vs AQ | ~73% / 27% | Domination: the shared ace means AQ mostly needs a queen. |
| 22 vs AK offsuit | ~52% / 48% | The smallest pair still nudges out the biggest unpaired hand. |
| AA vs 76 suited | ~77% / 23% | Suited connectors are the best hand class to crack aces, and still lose 3 of 4. |
Draw odds cheat sheet
| Draw | From flop | From turn |
|---|---|---|
| Flush draw (9 outs) | ~35% | ~19.6% |
| Open-ended straight draw (8 outs) | ~31.5% | ~17.4% |
| Gutshot (4 outs) | ~16.5% | ~8.7% |
| Flush draw + open-ender (15 outs) | ~54% | ~32.6% |
| Two overcards (6 outs) | ~24% | ~13% |
The math that pays the bills
Position first. Acting last is worth more than any single card. The same hand that prints money on the button loses it from early position, which is why every winning preflop chart tightens as position worsens.
Pot odds are non-negotiable. Every call is a price. If the pot lays you 4:1 and your draw comes in 5:1 against, the call loses money no matter how the hand ends. The rule of 4 and 2 makes this a five-second calculation.
Rake decides where profit lives. A 5% raked game requires several big blinds per 100 hands of raw edge before you earn anything. Game selection (finding soft tables) moves win rates more than any advanced strategy concept.
All poker guides (2)
- Pot Odds and Equity: The 5-Second Call Math
Pot odds and equity: the five-second math behind every call, explained with worked poker examples and how the same framework applies to trading decisions.
- Poker Starting Hands: The Tiers That Make or Lose Money
Poker starting hands: the tiers that make or lose money, broken down by equity, position, and bankroll discipline so you know which hole cards to fold in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold’em?
The premium tier is AA, KK, QQ and AK suited: these four hands win money in almost any situation and position. The next tier (JJ, TT, AQ suited, AK offsuit) still plays strongly but needs more care after the flop. Everything below that is situational and depends heavily on position and stack depth.
What is the rule of 4 and 2 in poker?
Count your outs, then multiply by 4 on the flop (two cards to come) or 2 on the turn (one card to come) to estimate your improvement odds in percent. A flush draw with 9 outs is roughly 36% on the flop and 18% on the turn, which lands within about one point of the exact math. It is the fastest usable equity estimate at a live table.
What are pot odds and how do I use them?
Pot odds compare the price of a call to the size of the pot: calling $20 into an $80 pot means you pay 20% of the final $100, so you need at least 20% equity to break even. Compare that to your hand equity from the rule of 4 and 2, and fold when the price is worse than your chances.
Is AA vs KK really 80/20?
Preflop all-in, AA beats KK roughly 82% of the time with about half a percent of ties, varying slightly with suits. It feels closer than that in practice because people remember the losses, but over any real sample the four-to-one edge shows up reliably. Our equity calculator lets you run the exact matchup with any suits.
How much rake do online poker sites take?
Cash games typically rake around 5% of each pot up to a cap (commonly $3 at low and mid stakes on GGPoker and comparable rooms), and tournaments charge roughly 8-10% in entry fees. Rake is poker’s house edge: it makes the game beatable only for players good enough to overcome both opponents and the fee.
Can you make money playing online poker in 2026?
Yes, but the bar is higher than a decade ago: solver-trained regulars fill mid-stakes and up, so profit lives mostly at micro and low stakes against recreational players, in soft formats, or in games with high recreational traffic. Winning players think in terms of dollars per 100 hands after rake, not session results.
What is GTO poker and do beginners need it?
GTO (game theory optimal) play is a defensive strategy that cannot be exploited, computed by solvers. Beginners profit far more from fundamentals: tight starting hands, position, pot odds and not paying off obvious strength. Study exploitative basics first; solver work matters when your opponents stop making obvious mistakes.