[longlags]

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There are a lot of disagreeeonment on the top 10 starting hands you can have in holdem once it gets past the 4th one. For instance most sites say AA, KK, QQ, AK as the best 4 starting hands. Then some people who write articles say JJ is the 5th whereas another site has AQ as the 5th best starting hand. Then i read some ridiculous article that has KQ as the 6th and then AJ as 7th and AK offsuit as the 8th.

Personally I think Phil Hellmuths top ten starting hands
AA, KK, QQ, AKs, JJ, 1010, 99, 88, AQs and 77 is the best.

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Note that it depends on the number of players.
in 6 handed table, the correct rank will be
AA,KK,QQ,JJ,AKs,TT,AQs,KQs,AJs,AKo

KQs excpect to win more times then AJs in the long run against multiple opponents.
Ofcourse AJs dominates KQs when both in play, but against random hands KQs is a better hand.

AJs is becoming a better hand then KQs in 5 handed game and less, which makes your hunch about AJs in shape since must of the time youll play against less then 5 opponents.
That why raising with AJs makes a good play. it's reducing the num of the opponents hence gain your equity.

in hu, the whole expectation norms are different. even 22 are slightly better then AKs.

as you decrease players, the ranking of pocket pairs & the value of the high card raises up.
so, the rank is heavily depends on the number of the opponents.