Preflop charts are essential visual guides that show exactly which hands to play from every position at the table, utilizing solver generated GTO ranges and strategic exploitative adjustments. Because preflop action is where most costly mistakes occur, mastering this initial stage makes every subsequent post flop decision significantly more manageable. Focusing heavily on a texas holdem preflop chart ensures players develop a rock solid strategy before the community cards hit the felt.
These poker preflop charts provide a clear visual breakdown of the exact hand ranges to execute across various game formats, table positions, and stack depths. By downloading a professional preflop range chart, players gain instant access to mathematically sound opening, 3 betting, and defense ranges for both cash games and tournaments. Utilizing the best preflop charts eliminates table guesswork, teaching players how to read preflop charts effectively to maximize win rates and take their game to the next level.
Why You Should Use Preflop Charts
Making the right decisions before the flop sets you up for effortless post-flop execution. Think of these ranges as a fundamental blueprint by downloading the best preflop charts for your specific game variant, you immediately clean up your strategy in several key areas:
- Eliminates Table Guesswork: Replaces emotional, "feel-based" open-raises with mathematically sound, long-term profitable baseline decisions.
- Minimizes Post-Flop Disadvantages: Folding weak cards early keeps you out of bloated pots with dominated hands, saving you countless chips on future streets.
- Positional Protection: Automatically tightens your ranges in early positions and widens them on the button, maximizing the massive structural advantage of acting last.
- Builds Core Muscle Memory: By consistently focusing on memorizing baseline cutoff hands, you quickly develop an intuitive, subconscious sense for hand strengths.
How to Read Preflop Charts
Every preflop range chart is built on the same visual foundation: a 13×13 grid showing all 169 possible starting hand combinations. Learning how to read preflop charts requires understanding how this grid is laid out:
- The Diagonal: Running from top-left to bottom-right, the diagonal contains all pocket pairs, from Aces (AA) down to deuces (22).
- Upper-Right Triangle: This section contains all suited hands (e.g., AQs, KTs).
- Lower-Left Triangle: This section contains all offsuit hands (e.g., ATo, KQo).
Color coding tells you exactly what to do with each hand. A colored cell means play the hand, while a blank or grey cell means fold. When multiple actions are possible—such as raising or calling , different colors indicate the correct strategic frequency.
The biggest mistake beginners make when studying poker preflop charts is treating them as rigid, all-or-nothing rules. A texas holdem preflop chart tells you the mathematically correct baseline. Once you understand the core logic of why certain hands are included or excluded from a specific range, you will start to make better adjustments at the table without needing to constantly consult a preflop range chart.
Here is a quick reference for common notation you will see in preflop charts and range lists:
- 66+: Any pocket pair of 66 or higher (66, 77, 88, 99, TT, JJ, QQ, KK, AA)
- A2s+: Any suited Ace from A2s through AKs
- ATo+: Any offsuit Ace from ATo through AKo
- KTs+: Any suited King from KTs through KQs
- RFI: Raise First In (open-raising when no one has entered the pot before you)
- 3-bet: A re-raise after an opponent has already made an initial open-raise
Poker Hand Charts for Tournaments
Tournament poker preflop charts are designed to teach you what ranges to use before the flop in dynamic MTT situations. If you are new to tournament poker or are struggling to make the right preflop play, analyzing a proper tournament preflop range chart will give you the answers you need.
GTO Poker Charts as Your Starting Point
These are the hands you should be opening when playing with a 75bb stack in tournaments. To make these preflop charts convenient to study, we have broken down the ranges by table position:
- UTG (Under the Gun): 13.7% – 66+, A3s+, K9s+, Q9s+, AJo+, KQo
- UTG+1: 16.3% – 66+, A3s+, K8s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, ATo+
- UTG+2: 19.2% – 44+, A2s+, K8s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T8s+, 98s, 76s, ATo+, KTo+
- LJ (Lojack): 23.5% – 33+, A2s+, K6s+, Q9s+, J8s+, T8s+, 98s, 87s, 76s, A9o+, KTo+, QTo+
- HJ (Hijack): 27.9% – 22+, A2s+, K4s+, Q8s+, J8s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, 65s, 54s, A8o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo
- CO (Cutoff): 37.3% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q5s+, J7s+, T6s+, 96s+, 86s+, 75s+, 65s, 54s, A5o+, K9o+, Q9o+, J9o+, T9o
- BTN (Button): 54.8% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J3s+, T3s+, 95s+, 85s+, 74s+, 64s+, 53s+, 43s, A2o+, K5o+, Q8o+, J8o+, T7o+, 97o+, 87o
- SB (Small Blind): Raise or Limp 81.6% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T2s+, 92s+, 82s+, 72s+, 62s+, 52s+, 42s+, 32s, A2o+, K2o+, Q2o+, J2o+, T3o+, 95o+, 85o+, 75o+, 64o+, 54o
Game Theory Optimal (GTO) poker preflop charts are a starting point, not a static script. Players who improve fastest are those who learn how to read preflop charts to understand why a hand is profitable to open from UTG but folded from the Button, allowing them to layer exploitation on top of that baseline.
A GTO texas holdem preflop chart focuses on perfectly balanced plays that work regardless of your opponents' strategies. However, you must adapt these ranges when your stack shrinks to 40, 25, or 15 big blinds. By studying the best preflop charts for various stack depths, you will learn how poker solvers respond to shifting dynamics.
Exploitative Poker Hand Charts
Contrary to GTO ranges, an exploitative preflop range chart helps you adjust to specific opponents to maximize your EV against population tendencies. Here is an exploitative baseline for deeper stack tournament play (100bb):
- UTG: 10.1% – 66+, A9s+, A5s, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, T9s, 98s, AQo+
- UTG+1: 14.3% – 66+, A4s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, AJo+, KQo
- UTG+2: 15.7% – 66+, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, AJo+, KQo
- LJ: 18.3% – 44+, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, ATo+, KJo+
- HJ: 21.3% – 22+, A2s+, K8s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, 54s, ATo+, KJo+
- CO: 27% – 22+, A2s+, K7s+, Q8s+, J8s+, T8s+, 97s+, 86s+, 75s+, 64s+, 54s, 43s, A9o+, KJo+
- BTN: 51.3% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J6s+, T6s+, 96s+, 85s+, 75s+, 64s+, 53s+, 43s, 32s, A2o+, K7o+, Q8o+, J8o+, T8o+, 97o+, 87o, 76o
- SB: Raise or Limp 69% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T4s+, 94s+, 84s+, 74s+, 63s+, 53s+, 43s, 32s, A2o+, K2o+, Q2o+, J6o+, T6o+, 96o+, 86o+, 76o
When reviewing student histories, I notice most players deviate too aggressively without solid data. Use this exploitative preflop charts layout as a baseline, and only tighten or loosen your strategy once you have built a reliable profile on your opponents.
These exploitative poker preflop charts recommend the following baseline raise sizes:
- RFI: 2.5x bb
- 3-Bet IP (In Position): 3x the initial open raise
- 3-Bet OOP (Out of Position): 3.5x the initial open raise
- 4-Bet IP: 2.3x to 2.5x the 3-bet
- 4-Bet OOP: 2.75x the 3-bet
Adjusting Based on Stack Depth
Adjusting your ranges based on stack depth is an essential skill for any tournament player. Because blinds constantly rise, your stack will oscillate drastically throughout an event. The best preflop charts account for these changes.
If you compare a 75bb texas holdem preflop chart to a shallow 15bb variation, you will see significant differences. Deep stack charts suggest opening speculative hands like 43s from the Button due to high implied odds. Conversely, shallower stacks mean you might open a high card hand like K7s from UTG while completely folding low suited connectors like 87s in the Cutoff. Studying a professional preflop range chart reveals the underlying mathematical logic behind these shifts.
Push-Fold Charts for Your End Game
In tournament poker, drops in stack size to 10 big blinds or fewer eliminate post-flop maneuvering, forcing you to play a strict push-or-fold strategy. Here are the short-stack ranges you should master:
- UTG: Raise or All-In 16.9% – 44+, A4s+, K9s+, QTs+, J9s+, T9s, A9o+, KJo+
- UTG+1: Raise or All-In 19.5% – 33+, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, A9o+, KJo+, QJo
- LJ: Raise or All-In 22.6% – 22+, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, A7o+, KTo+, QJo
- HJ: All-In 27.7% – 22+, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T8s+, 98s, A3o+, KTo+, QJo, JTo
- CO: All-In 31.5% – 22+, A2s+, K6s+, Q8s+, J8s+, T8s+, 98s, A2o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo
- BTN: All-In or Raise 38.9% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q5s+, J6s+, T6s+, 97s+, 87s, A2o+, K7o+, QTo+, JTo
- SB: Call or All-In 77.6% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T2s+, 92s+, 82s+, 72s+, 62s+, 52s+, 42s+, 32s, A2o+, K2o+, Q2o+, J2o+, T4o+, 95o+, 86o+, 75o+, 65o
These specialized preflop charts teach you exactly which hands to shove when short-stacked, which hands you can still raise/fold, and when to utilize a small blind limping strategy.
3-Bet and Defense Ranges
Knowing what to open is only half of the puzzle; you also need a clear plan when facing a raise. 3 betting ranges are where recreational players leak the most value by playing far too tight. A well constructed preflop range chart balances value hands and bluffs in the correct proportions.
As a general framework for tournament play at 75bb depth:
- Value 3-bets: QQ+, AK from all positions. Add JJ and AQs from late positions.
- Bluff 3-bets: Hands with excellent card removal (blockers) and low call equity, such as A2s-A5s from the Button or Small Blind.
- Calling Range: Hands that play well post-flop in position, such as medium pocket pairs, suited connectors, and strong Broadway combinations.
Our complete downloadable package features the best preflop charts covering 3 bet defense, both in and out of position, across multiple stack sizes.
Preflop Poker Charts for Cash Games
Cash games differ from tournaments because stacks remain deep (typically 100bb or more), meaning you rarely have to worry about short-stack push/fold dynamics. Our cash game poker preflop charts provide streamlined, easy to memorize solutions for 6 Max and Full Ring environments.
Poker Preflop Charts for 6-Max
6-Max cash games are incredibly popular. Here is the open-raising strategy for a standard 100bb 6-Max game:
- LJ: 17.6% – 66+, A3s+, K8s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, ATo+, KJo+, QJo
- HJ: 21.4% – 55+, A2s+, K6s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, ATo+, KTo+, QTo+
- CO: 27.8% – 33+, A2s+, K3s+, Q6s+, J8s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, A8o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo
- BTN: 43.5% – 33+, A2s+, K2s+, Q3s+, J4s+, T6s+, 96s+, 85s+, 75s+, 64s+, 53s+, A4o+, K8o+, Q9o+, J9o+, T8o+, 98o
- SB: Raise or Call 62.3% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T3s+, 94s+, 84s+, 74s+, 63s+, 53s+, 43s, A2o+, K4o+, Q5o+, J7o+, T7o+, 96o+, 86o+, 76o
These are designed as "implementable" preflop charts. True solver solutions recommend complex, mixed frequencies (e.g., raising a hand 30% of the time and folding it 70%), which are nearly impossible to execute perfectly in real time. This texas holdem preflop chart simplifies those mixed strategies into clean, high equity human actions for 100bb play.
Standard 6-Max cash game sizing:
- RFI: 2.5bb (3bb from the SB)
- 3-Bet IP: 3.5x the initial raise
- 3-Bet OOP: 4x the initial raise
- Facing an SB Limp: Raise to 3.5bb in the BB
Starting Hands for Full-Ring Poker Games (8-Max)
Full-ring cash games include extra positions, requiring you to play a significantly tighter range from early position than you would in a 6-Max game.
- UTG: 11.4% – 77+, A3s+, K9s+, QTs+, JTs, T9s, AQo+, KQo
- UTG+1: 13.2% – 77+, A3s+, K8s+, QTs+, JTs, T9s, AJo+, KQo
- LJ: 15.7% – 66+, A2s+, K7s+, QTs+, JTs, T9s, ATo+, KJo+
- HJ: 19.6% – 55+, A2s+, K5s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, ATo+, KTo+, QJo
- CO: 26.1% – 44+, A2s+, K5s+, Q8s+, J8s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, 65s, 54s, A8o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo
- BTN: 40.3% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q3s+, J5s+, T6s+, 96s+, 86s+, 76s, 65s, 54s, A3o+, K8o+, Q9o+, J9o+, T9o
- SB: Call or Raise 73.9% – 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T2s+, 92s+, 84s+, 73s+, 63s+, 52s+, 42s+, A2o+, K2o+, Q3o+, J5o+, T6o+, 96o+, 86o+, 75o+, 65o, 54o
When transitioning from 6 Max to full ring, use your standard 6 max poker preflop charts as a base, but ensure you tighten up dramatically from UTG and UTG+1 while folding more conservatively when facing raises from those early positions.
What Are Ranges and How Are They Built?
If you are new to modern poker strategy, the concept of a range might be entirely fresh. Professional players discuss the game almost exclusively in terms of hand ranges.
A poker range is simply the total collection of all possible starting hands a player could hold in a specific scenario, taking into account their position, stack depth, and prior actions. For example, a tight player open-raising from UTG in a full ring game might hold a narrow range consisting of just the top 8% of all starting hands. Conversely, a loose opponent calling from the Small Blind might hold a wide range encompassing up to 80% of all possible starting hands.
The Most Common Texas Hold’em Ranges
To help you understand how to read preflop charts and conceptualize percentages, review this breakdown of common percentage-based ranges:
Hand Range % | Included Poker Hands |
5% | TT+, AK |
10% | 66+, AQ+, A9s+, A5s, KTs+, QTs+, 98s+ |
15% | 55+, AJ+, KQ, A2s+, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, 76s+ |
20% | 22+, AT+, KJ+, QJ, A2s+, K8s+, Q9s+, T8s+, 65s+ |
|
