What is a starting hand chart and why is it needed?

A quality preflop is the foundation of a poker player's strategy. If you know how to correctly choose starting hands to enter a hand, it will be much easier and more effective to make decisions on the subsequent streets. 

In this article, we will examine one of the key tools used by both novice and experienced players — starting hand charts.

We will discuss:

• what a chart is and why it is needed

• what a chart consists of and how to 'read' it

• what basic charts are used in poker for playing at 9-max tables

• what mistakes beginners most often make when working with charts.

Starting hand chart — is a special table (13×13 matrix) showing which hands are profitable to play and what action to take (raise, call, or fold) depending on the position at the table.

Why are charts needed?

1. They structure ranges. You know which hands are profitable to play from each position.
   
   

2. They reduce the number of mistakes and promote discipline. The player makes fewer marginal decisions and more mathematically justified ones.
   
   

3. They accelerate learning. Help to memorize ranges and categories of hands faster. 

How to 'read' a chart? 

The chart looks like a 13×13 cell matrix and is a visual guide for selecting starting hands (see below).

It displays all combinations that exist in poker — a total of 1326. Of these, 169 are unique groups of hands: pocket pairs, suited and offsuit hands.

Each cell represents a separate starting hand:

• The diagonal of the chart — pocket pairs. In the poker community, they are called pockets. Each pair has exactly 6 combinations. For example, pocket fours can be assembled as:

4♣4♦
4♣4♥
4♣4♠
4♦4♥
4♦4♠
4♥4♠

All other pairs are similarly structured — from 22 to AA.

• Above the diagonal — suited hands. In charts, these hands are marked with the letter “s.” Each such combination has 4 possible variations by suits. For example, A5s could be:
  
  A♣5♣
  A♦5♦
  A♥5♥
  A♠5♠

The same rule applies to all other suited hands — from the strongest (AKs) to the weakest (32s).

• Below the diagonal — offsuit hands. In charts, these hands are marked with the letter “o.” Each offsuit combination has 12 variations, because the cards can be of any suit, but different.

For example, JTo is:
J♣T♦, J♣T♥, J♣T♠
J♦T♣, J♦T♥, J♦T♠
J♥T♣, J♥T♦, J♥T♠
J♠T♣, J♠T♦, J♠T♥

A total of 12 combinations.

This difference in the number of combinations is the key reason why suited hands are less common, while offsuit hands make up a larger portion of all possible starting hands.

We suggest taking a look at how the main charts for preflop opening, defending big blind against early, late, and middle positions look. 

Basic starting hand charts for 9-max tables

In this format of tournaments, positions are divided into three groups — early, middle, and late. More details about positions can be found in this article. 

1. Early position (UTG, UTG +1) 

Here we open a rather tight range — 10–15% of all hands.

Suited hands are above the central diagonal and consist of suited broadway to the tenth line and all suited aces. Below the diagonal are offsuit hands to the tenth line of aces. Pocket pairs are opened from 55. 

2. Middle position (MP, MP+2, Lojack, Hijack)

Here the range expands to 18–22% of all hands. One can see that the expansion of the range affects the suited portion of the chart more.

The reason: suited hands have a greater potential for nuts (the ability to make a flush higher). 

Low suited connectors, seventh and eighth-line suited kings appear in the range, but only the tenth suited line from ace to jack. Pocket pairs expand to 44.

Importantly: at 6-max tables, positions shift — early disappears, and counting starts immediately from MP.

3. Late positions (Cutoff, Button)

In late positions, the opening range is the widest — from 30 to 50% of all hands.

The suited half of the chart is almost fully filled, while the offsuit has expanded to the eighth line.

Defending BB against raises

This is an example of a chart where our action will not be an open raise*, but a defense against an open raise. 

Open raise is the first voluntary raise preflop when all players before you have folded.

Against early positions — we fold many offsuit combinations.

Against middle — the range is wider but still limited.

Against late — we defend very widely from the big blind.

The main mistakes of beginners when working with charts

Even with a ready-made starting hand chart at hand, beginners often make mistakes. This is because they take it too literally and do not consider other factors of the game. 

Let’s examine the most common mistakes that hinder the effective use of charts.

1. Ignoring positions.

One of the most common mistakes is playing the same hands regardless of the position. Beginners open with the same range from UTG and from the button, although in reality the difference is enormous.

2. Too cautious defense of the big blind

Novice players often fold too many hands. As a result, they miss profitable situations for calling or 3-betting. It is important to use the chart as a guideline and consider the playing style to defend effectively.

3. Charts are a foundation, not a dogma

A simple example: in the early stages of tournaments, chips are cheaper, so it makes sense to defend wider and look for opportunities to increase the stack. In the late stages, the ranges of defense and opening can be slightly adjusted — playing more cautiously with small stacks or taking into account the opponents' style in the late stages of the tournament, where the risk of busting is high.

Remember that the chart provides a basic understanding, but a skilled player always adapts to the realities of the table. 

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