Preflop Starting Hand Chart

How to Use the Preflop Chart

A poker preflop chart is one of the most important reference tools for any Texas Holdem player. It shows you which starting hands to play and how to play them based on your position at the table. Whether you are a beginner learning the basics or an experienced player refining your opening ranges, a solid understanding of preflop hand selection is the foundation of winning poker strategy.

What Are Starting Hand Ranges?

Starting hand ranges describe the set of hands you choose to play from a given position. In a standard nine-handed game, there are positions like Under the Gun (UTG), Middle Position (MP), Cutoff (CO), Button (BTN), Small Blind (SB), and Big Blind (BB). The later your position, the more hands you can profitably open because you have more information from the players who act before you. For example, a tight UTG range might include only premium pairs and strong broadways like AK and AQ, while a Button range can include suited connectors, small pairs, and a wide variety of suited aces.

Why Position Matters

Position play is a core concept in poker strategy. When you act last on every postflop street, you get to see what your opponents do before making your decision. This informational advantage allows you to play more hands profitably from late position and fewer hands from early position. The preflop chart above reflects this principle by showing wider ranges for later positions and tighter ranges for earlier ones.

Reading the Chart

The chart displays all 169 unique starting hand combinations in a 13x13 grid. Suited hands appear above the diagonal, offsuit hands below, and pocket pairs along the diagonal. Each hand is color-coded by strength tier so you can quickly identify which hands fall into your opening range. Use the position filter to see how ranges shift depending on where you sit at the table. Hands highlighted in green are strong opens, yellow hands are situational, and gray hands are generally folds.

Putting It into Practice

Memorizing a poker preflop chart is a great starting point, but real improvement comes from understanding why certain hands are played from certain positions. As you practice with the chart, pay attention to how your results change when you tighten or loosen your ranges. Combine this knowledge with reads on your opponents and you will start making more profitable decisions before the flop is even dealt. ACEGO lets you practice these concepts against 13 AI opponents who each play with distinct styles, helping you learn when to deviate from standard ranges based on the players around you.