Starting Hand Chart for Full Table Limit Holdem
Many poker professionals agree that one of the most important skills of a successful player is knowing which starting hands to play in different positions and situations. Following are three starting hand charts for full-handed limit poker games.
Preflop play is fairly straightforward, but no starting hand chart can cover everything you need to know. Different games require different strategies. These charts should help you adapt to three types of poker games: Typical Game, Aggressive Game, and Soft Game. These guidelines are not strict, however. There are times when you should play hands that the charts say you should fold. There are other situations where you should raise when the chart says to just call.
Poker is a complex game. These charts are meant for beginning and intermediate poker players. More advanced players can deviate from our suggestions. Expert players do not rely on charts; they instead tailor their plays to each particular situation. Only experience at the tables can help you reach that level of expertise.
In the meantime, we suggest you study the preflop sections of Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth and Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller. Sklansky, Malmuth, and Miller cover the complexities of preflop in much greater detail than we do here. Also look for quizzes in our poker forum that show when to follow the charts and when to deviate from them. Good luck!
| Typical Game: 2-4 players seeing the flop on average. A moderate amount of preflop raising | |||
| Action Before You |
No Raise | One Raise | Raise & Re-raise |
| Early Position | Raise: AA-JJ, AKs-AJs, AKo-AQo, KQs Call: TT-88, ATs, KJs, QJs, AJo, KQo |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs-AQs, AKo Call: JJ-TT, AJs, KQs (You can also reraise with these hands) |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Middle Position | Raise: AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs-KJs, AKo-AJo, KQo Call: 88-77, KTs, QJs-T9s, ATo, KJo |
Raise: Same as above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Late Position | Raise: AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs-KJs, QJs, AKo-AJo, KQo Call: 88-55, A9s-A5s, KTs, QTs, JTs-76s, J9s, ATo, KJo, QJo |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Small Blind | Raise: AA-JJ, AKs-AJs, KQs, AKo-AQo Call: All late-position hands, plus any suited Ace and any pocket pair. |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Big Blind | Raise: Same hands as small blind. Check: Everything else. |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above, plus 99-77, ATs-A8s, KJs, QJs-JTs, AQo |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Aggressive Game: Many pots raised before the flop. Aggressive games can be loose or tight. | |||
| Action Before You |
No Raise | One Raise | Raise & Re-raise |
| Early Position | Raise: AA-JJ, AKs-AJs, KQs, AKo-AQo Call: TT-99, ATs, KJs, QJs |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs, AKo Call: JJ-TT, AQs-AJs, KQs (You can also reraise with these hands) |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Middle Position | Raise: AA-TT, AKs-AJs, KQs, AKo-AJo Call: 99-88, ATs, KJs, QJs-JTs, ATo, KQo |
Raise: Same as above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Late Position | Raise: AA-99, AKs-AJs, KQs-KJs, AKo-AJo Call: 88-77, ATs-A8s, KTs, QJs-98s, ATo, KQo-KJo |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Small Blind | Raise: AA-99, AKs-AJs, KQs, AKo-AQo Call: All late-position hands + any pocket pair if 2 or more players have limped in |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Big Blind | Raise: Same hands as small blind. Check: Everything else. |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above, plus 99-88, ATs-A8s, KJs, QJs, AQo. |
Raise: AA-KK Call or Reraise: QQ and AKs |
| Soft Games:: At least 3-5 players seeing the flop on average. Very little pre-flop raising | |||
| Action Before You |
No Raise | One Raise | Raise & Re-raise |
| Early Position | Raise: AA-TT, AKs-AJs, KQs, AKo-AQo Call: 99-77, ATs-A8s, KJs-KTs, QJs-T9s, AJo, KQo |
Raise: AA-TT, AKs-AQs, AKo Call: AJs, KQs (You can also reraise with these hands) |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs |
| Middle Position | Raise: AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs-KJs AKo-AJo, KQo Call: 88-22, A9s-A2s, KTs, QJs-76s, ATo, KJo |
Raise: Same as above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs |
| Late Position | Raise: AA-88, AKs-A8s, KQs-KJs, QJs, AKo-ATo, KQo Call: 77-22, A7s-A2s, KTs-K9s, QTs-Q8s, JTs-54s, J9s-97s, KJo, QJo |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs |
| Small Blind | Raise: AA-99, AKs-ATs, KQs, AKo-AQo Call: All late-position hands. |
Raise: Same of above Call: Same as above |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs |
| Big Blind | Raise: Same hands as small blind. Check: Everything else. |
Raise: Same hands as above. Call: Same as above, plus 99-22, ATs-A2s, QJs-98s, KJs-KTs, AQo |
Raise: AA-QQ, AKs |
More on the Preflop Recommendations:
If you have already entered the pot and one player behind you raises, you should call the raise. For example, if you have called with KJs and a later player raises, you should call even though the chart says to fold that hand against a raise. This is because the chart assumes you have not already entered the pot. If there is a raise and a re-raise behind you, you should fold everything other than AA-QQ, AKs, and possibly JJ. We have included special calling standards for the small and big blind positions since you have not voluntarily entered the pot. If you are in one of the blinds and there is a raise before you, follow the chart's recommendations.
Our recommendations are tighter and more passive than is optimal. This is to
keep beginning players out of trouble. After you have gained
experience and studied Sklansky, Malmuth, and Miller, you can deviate from the
chart's recommendations. Until then, do not stray too far from our advice. We
will have quizzes in the forums
that address exceptions to the rules we have
outlined above.
