Preflop charts explained: open, 3-bet and call ranges

What a preflop chart actually is

A preflop chart (also called a range chart) is a picture of a decision. Instead of memorising rules hand by hand, you look at one grid and see what to do with every possible starting hand from a given seat.

There are 1,326 two-card combinations in Hold’em, but many of them play the same way. A♠ K♠ and A♥ K♥ are strategically identical, so charts group them into 169 distinct hands: 13 pocket pairs, 78 suited hands and 78 offsuit hands. That is exactly what fits in a 13×13 grid.

If you are new to hand strength in general, start with our starting hands guide and come back here.

How to read the 13×13 grid

Both the rows and the columns run A, K, Q, J, T, 9 … 2. Each square is where two ranks meet.

• The diagonal holds the pocket pairs: AA in the top-left corner, 22 in the bottom-right.
• One side of the diagonal (usually the top-right) holds suited hands, such as AKs or 98s.
• The other side (usually the bottom-left) holds offsuit hands, such as AKo or 98o.

Check the legend on any chart you use, because a few flip the suited and offsuit halves.

Combos matter more than squares

Not every square is worth the same. A pair has 6 combos, a suited hand has 4 and an offsuit hand has 12. So adding K9o to a range adds three times as many hands as adding K9s. That is why charts include many suited hands but only the strongest offsuit ones.

What the colours mean

Most charts use one colour per action:

The three ranges you need

Open-raising range

Your open-raise range is what you play when everyone before you has folded. It is the most important chart because it comes up most often. A standard open is around 2–2.5bb online.

3-bet range

A 3-bet is a re-raise against an open. A good 3-bet range has two parts: strong value hands that want a bigger pot (QQ+, AK) and some suited hands that can play well if called, such as A5s. Read more in our 3-bet strategy lesson.

Calling range

Your calling (or cold-call) range is hands that are too good to fold but not strong enough to 3-bet, such as mid pairs and suited connectors. Most calling happens from the button and the big blind, where position or a discount makes it worthwhile.

Position by position: the principles

Exact percentages vary by game and stack depth, so treat these as principles rather than fixed rules. The key idea is simple: the more players left to act behind you, the tighter you play.

• Under the gun (UTG) and early seats. Tightest range. Pairs, big aces like AQ and AJs, and strong broadways such as KQs. A hand like A♦ 9♣ is a fold here.
• Middle position and hijack. Add smaller pairs, more suited aces and suited connectors like 98s.
• Cutoff. Noticeably wider. Hands such as K♠ T♠, Q♥ J♦ and 76s become opens.
• Button. The widest opening range at the table, because you act last on every postflop street. Many suited hands and offsuit broadways are opens.
• Small blind. Often plays a raise-or-fold strategy when folded to, since it will be out of position against the big blind.
• Big blind. Defends widest of all because it already has 1bb in the pot and closes the action. See our lesson on big blind defence.

Worked example: you hold 8♠ 7♠. From UTG at a full table it is a fold. From the cutoff it is a comfortable open. Facing a button open in the big blind it is a clear call. Same cards, three different answers, which is exactly why charts are organised by seat.

How to adjust a chart at the table

Charts assume ordinary opponents. Adjust when the table is not ordinary:

• Passive, call-happy players behind you: cut the weakest bluffs and open slightly tighter but bigger.
• Very tight players in the blinds: open wider from late position, because steals succeed more.
• Short stacks (under about 20bb): speculative hands like small suited connectors lose value; pairs and high cards gain.
• Antes in play: there is more in the pot to win, so ranges widen.

Common mistakes with charts

• Using one chart for every seat. The whole point is that ranges change with position.
• Treating the chart as postflop advice. A chart gets you to the flop; it says nothing about what to do next.
• Ignoring action before you. An opening chart only applies when the action is folded to you. Facing a raise, use a 3-bet or calling chart.
• Memorising without understanding. Learn why a hand is in or out and you will remember far more.
• Copying a chart built for a different game. A chart for deep-stacked ring games does not fit a 25bb tournament stack, and a 6-max chart is too loose for a full table.

Quick checklist

1. Which seat am I in?
2. Has anyone raised before me?
3. What does my chart say for this seat and situation?
4. Is there a clear reason (stack size, player type) to adjust?
5. Does my chart match the format I’m playing (6-max or full ring, ring game or tournament)?

Download our printable cheat sheets and keep one beside you while you play.