When I first learned poker, the chaotic blur of decisions preflop felt like trying to read a foreign language. The one thing that pulled me out of that confusion was a simple tool: a starting hands chart. Over years of play—cash games, micro-stakes tournaments, and occasional home games—I refined how I use a starting hands chart to make faster, more profitable decisions. This guide explains how to read, apply, and customize a starting hands chart so you can move beyond memorization and make confident, situation-aware choices at every table.
What a starting hands chart actually is
A starting hands chart is a condensed reference that ranks preflop hands by relative strength and situational value. Rather than memorizing every possible two-card combination, the chart categorizes hands by type—pocket pairs, suited connectors, broadway hands, suited aces, and offsuit combinations—and recommends actions for different positions and stack depths. Think of it as a map: it doesn’t guarantee the destination, but it tells you which roads are worth taking.
Why the chart matters more than you might think
Many players dismiss charts as rigid, but the best charts act like training wheels—critical for building judgment. Here’s how they boost results:
- Reduce decision fatigue: In long sessions, your judgment degrades. A chart provides a baseline, so you conserve mental energy for high-leverage spots.
- Improve consistency: Charts remove random, emotion-driven plays that leak chips over time.
- Teach hand dynamics: Good charts highlight how suitedness, connectivity, and position change a hand’s value.
How to read a starting hands chart: the essentials
Most charts use either color-coding or grid formats. A standard 13x13 grid lists ranks A through 2 on both axes; pairs sit on the diagonal, suited combinations are on one side, offsuit on the other. Key things to note:
- Pairs: Higher pairs remain strong in all positions but their implied value depends on opponents’ ranges and stack size.
- Suited vs. Offsuit: Suited hands gain value because of flush and straight potential; Axs hands have added wheel possibilities.
- Position Premiums: Early position demands tighter ranges, while late position opens many speculative hands that can be played profitably against fewer callers.
Position-specific starter ranges (practical examples)
Below are simplified ranges that reflect commonly accepted preflop wisdom. Use these as a foundation and adapt for your table dynamics.
- Under the Gun (full ring): Strongest top-of-range hands only—pocket pairs 88+, AK, AQ, sometimes AJ suited depending on aggression.
- Middle Position: Add hands like KQ, QJ suited, suited connectors 76s+, and medium pairs 66–77.
- Cutoff & Button: Expand significantly—small pairs, suited connectors down to 54s, most suited aces, broadways, and speculative offsuit hands for steals.
- Blinds: Defend wider from the big blind, especially against late-position opens; prioritize hands with playability and blockers.
Stack depth and chart adjustments
A starting hands chart should never be static. Stack sizes change the equity and postflop playability of hands:
- Deep Stacks (100+bbs): Suited connectors and lower pairs gain value because you can extract more postflop. Expand your calling range and set-mining becomes profitable.
- Medium Stacks (40–100bbs): Favor hands that can make top pair with good kickers and strong two-card equities—broadways and mid suited aces climb in usefulness.
- Short Stacks (≤40bbs): Shift to a push/fold mentality in many tournament situations. Premium pairs and high broadways dominate; speculative hands drop off.
Adapting a chart to table dynamics and opponents
The real skill is not which chart you use, but how you adjust it live. Here’s a framework I learned the hard way through losing a few buy-ins:
- Loose passive table: Widen your opening and isolation ranges. Suited connectors and small pairs get more profitable multiway pots.
- Tight aggressive table: Tighten your opening range and favor hands that play well heads-up—big broadways and strong aces.
- Aggressive bluffer opponents: Value hands that hold up postflop and sharpen your 3-bet value range to exploit their frequent continuation bets.
Common mistakes with starting hands charts
Charts are tools, not religion. These are the missteps I’ve seen and made:
- Blindly following charts: Not adjusting for stack sizes, opponent tendencies, or tournament stage leads to costly errors.
- Overvaluing suitedness: A9s is not always better than KQo; context matters.
- Failing to transition: Using a deep-stack chart in a final table bubble is a miss—tournament ICM and blind pressure demand adjustments.
How to practice and internalize chart decisions
Memorization alone is weak. Combine these methods to truly benefit:
- Play short focused sessions applying a single chart until the ranges feel natural.
- Review hands post-session with a solver or equity calculator to see where your chart diverged from optimal play.
- Use staged drills: 25 hands where you only open/raise according to the chart, 25 hands defending blind ranges, then evaluate leaks.
Tools and resources
Several modern tools can help visualize and test starting hand strategies. If you want a quick reference while you study or practice, check the resource link below. For a deeper dive, equity calculators and GTO solvers let you test how hand ranges perform in realistic spots.
Illustrative scenarios
Scenario A — Deep cash table, you’re on the button with 76s. The cutoff calls a standard open. A starting hands chart that accounts for deep stacks tells you this hand is worth playing because of postflop implied odds. In a short-stack tournament with the same cards and action, the same chart would have you fold—there isn’t enough room to realize equity.
Scenario B — You hold AKo in early position. A starting hands chart confirms it’s a raise, but when a tight player 3-bets you frequently, the chart should prompt deeper thought: is a call or 4-bet better given stack sizes and opponent tendencies?
From charts to confident decisions: a short checklist
- What position am I in? (Position changes ranges more than any other single factor.)
- What are effective stack sizes? (Adjust for deep vs. short.)
- Who are my opponents and how do they play? (Exploit tendencies.)
- What is my table image? (Influences fold equity for steals and 3-bets.)
Final thoughts
A starting hands chart is the best friend a developing poker player can have: it builds discipline, accelerates learning, and lets you focus on higher-level decisions. Over time, you’ll internalize ranges and begin to deviate intelligently. I still consult charts between sessions to check blind-defense ranges or when switching formats, and I recommend every serious player keep a reliable chart in their toolkit.
For fast reference and a compact view you can study away from the table, visit this resource: keywords. Use charts, but never stop asking why a chart recommends a play—understanding the reasoning is what transforms a memorized list into real, evolving skill.
