Preflop Range Charts — Starting Hand Guide

How to Read Preflop Range Charts

A preflop range chart is a 13×13 grid representing all 169 unique starting hand combinations in Texas Hold'em. Each cell shows a hand and its recommended action for a given position and scenario.

• Diagonal (top-left to bottom-right) — pocket pairs from AA down to 22.
• Above the diagonal — suited hands (e.g., AKs means Ace-King suited). Suited hands have 4 possible combos.
• Below the diagonal — offsuit hands (e.g., AKo means Ace-King offsuit). Offsuit hands have 12 possible combos.
• Green cells — raise. These hands are strong enough to open or re-raise.
• Yellow cells — call. Playable hands that prefer to see a flop at a reasonable price.
• Gray cells — fold. Not profitable to play from this position in this scenario.

These charts reflect a tight-aggressive (TAG) strategy suitable for low-to-mid stakes 6-max cash games. As you gain experience reading opponents, you can widen or tighten these ranges based on table dynamics.

Position Strategy Guide

UTG (Under the Gun)

The tightest position at a 6-max table. You have five players left to act behind you, so only play premium hands. Expect to open roughly 15% of hands. Stick to big pairs (AA-77), strong aces (AKs-ATs), and select broadway suited combos.

MP (Middle Position)

Slightly wider than UTG. You can add hands like 66, A9s, KTs, and T9s. Your opening range should be around 18%. Still avoid marginal hands — you have several players behind you who can wake up with strong holdings.

CO (Cutoff)

The cutoff is where your range starts to open up significantly. With only two players left to act (BTN and blinds), you can profitably open around 25% of hands. Add suited connectors, more suited aces, and medium pairs down to 44.

BTN (Button)

The most profitable position in poker. You act last on every postflop street, giving you maximum information. Open up to 35% or more. Add small pairs, suited gappers, and weaker broadway hands. Your positional advantage compensates for weaker starting hands.

SB (Small Blind)

The small blind is a tricky spot. You have positional disadvantage postflop but only need to get through the BB. Most TAG strategies use a raise-or-fold approach from the SB — avoid limping. Open around 30% of hands when it folds to you.

BB (Big Blind)

The big blind defends against raises rather than opening. You get a discount (your big blind is already posted), so your defending range is wider than any opening range. Against a single raise, you can defend 40-50% of hands depending on the raiser's position. Mix between 3-betting and calling.

Understanding Scenarios

RFI (Raise First In)

Your opening range when no one has entered the pot before you. This is the most common preflop scenario. The later your position, the wider you can open.

vs 2-Bet (Facing a Raise)

When an opponent has already raised and you need to decide whether to 3-bet, call, or fold. Your continuing range is tighter than your opening range. Strong hands 3-bet for value, some suited aces and small pairs 3-bet as bluffs, and medium-strength hands call.

vs 3-Bet (Facing a Re-raise)

When you opened and an opponent 3-bet. This is the tightest scenario. Only continue with premium hands. 4-bet AA/KK for value, call with hands like QQ-TT and AQs, and fold everything else. As you move to later positions, your continuing range can widen slightly because opponent 3-bet ranges are wider against late-position opens.