The　High　Efficiency　Video　Coding　(HEVC)　adopts　increasing　number　of　intra　prediction　modes　and　Coding　Unit　(CU)　partitions,　in　order　to　diminish　its　cost　at　required　bitrates.　However,　its　attendant　computational　complexity　is　unfavorable　in　lots　of　real-world　applications.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　probability-based　strategy　that　benefits　a　lowcomplexity　HEVC　intra-encoder　and　also　provides　guidance　to　design　low-complexity　framework　of　next　generation　encoder.　The　proposed　strategy　comprises　three　steps:　a　candidate　mode　list　initialization　based　on　the　estimated　winning　probabilities　of　all　intra　modes,　an　early　termination　of　intra　prediction　based　on　the　estimated　probability　of　obtaining　the　best　intra　mode,　and　a　pre-decision　of　Coding　Unit　(CU)　split　based　on　the　estimated　distributions　of　the　Rate-Distortion　(RD)　costs.　Comprehensive　experiments　have　validated　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　algorithm,　with　a　promising　simulation　performance　under　Common　Test　Conditions　(CTC).　©　2018　IEEE.