Best Free Poker Preflop Charts: GTO & Exploitative Ranges

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+
30%	22+, A9+, All Broadways, A2s+, K7s+, Q7s+, J8s+, 53s+, 43s+
50%	22+, A2+, K7+, Q8+, J8+, 98+, 76+, Q2s+, J6s+, T6s+, 96s+, 74s+, 53s+, 32s+

Note: Broad shorthand notation symbols include + (any higher pair/hand variant), s (suited), and o (offsuit).

Common Preflop Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best preflop charts in hand, executing a flawless preflop strategy requires dodging severe tactical traps. Below are the most common preflop leaks that drain win rates:

1. Playing Too Many Hands Out of Position

The power of acting last post-flop cannot be overstated. Beginners often make the mistake of playing wide, speculative ranges from early positions like UTG or the Lojack. A proper preflop range chart forces tight play from early positions because acting first on three consecutive post-flop betting rounds is an immense mathematical disadvantage.

2. Overvaluing Offsuit Broadways

Hands like King-Jack offsuit (KJo), Queen-Jack offsuit (QJo), and Ace Ten offsuit (ATo) look attractive to inexperienced players. However, these hands are easily dominated by tighter opening ranges and struggle to make clean, nutted hands post-flop. Preflop charts strictly limit these combos to late-position openings.

3. Flat-Calling Too Frequently Facing an Open Raise

When an opponent open-raises, "flatting" (just calling) out of the blinds or the Cutoff with a wide range is a major leak. Flat-calling denies a player the opportunity to win the pot immediately preflop and invites other players behind to over-call or squeeze with a 3-bet. Utilizing a 3-bet-or-fold strategy in many positions protects capital.

4. Ignoring Evolving Stack Depths in Tournaments

A major pitfall in MTTs is failing to adjust ranges as the blinds increase. Playing a 25bb stack with the same wide, speculative strategy used at a 100bb depth results in fast tournament exits. Speculative suited connectors lose value as stacks shrink, while high-card value increases.

Preflop Charts Tips – How to Remember What Hands to Play

Memorizing massive grid patterns can feel daunting. Use these three foundational training tips to internalize your poker preflop charts seamlessly.

Tip #1. Realize Preflop Charts are a Study Tool, Not a Cheat Sheet

Using preflop charts while actively playing online poker is strictly prohibited by major cardrooms and is flagged as unfair software/chart assistance. Only use your preflop range chart between sessions to study and review your play. Your goal is to build an intuitive mental framework.

Tip #2. Memorize the "Cutoff" Hands

Instead of trying to memorize all 169 grid blocks, identify the absolute weakest baseline hand in each category on your texas holdem preflop chart.

For example, if your chart notes that the weakest open-raising suited one-gapper from the Cutoff is 64s, you inherently know you should also open every superior version (such as 75s, 86s, T8s). Memorizing the baseline cutoffs allows you to execute an incredibly accurate strategy without getting bogged down by details.

Tip #3. Learn to Deviate Against Non-Optimal Opponents

While the best preflop charts originate from flawless solver strategies, real opponents make massive errors. You should adjust your baseline ranges to exploit these tendencies:

• If an opponent plays too tight: Open wider ranges and attack their blinds aggressively.
• If an opponent plays too loose: Tighten your value ranges and cut out speculative bluffs.

For instance, if a balanced preflop range chart suggests 3 betting ATs from the Cutoff against a Lojack open, but you know the active Lojack player is an incredibly tight rock who only opens JJ+ and AK, you should deviate and fold. Trust your reads and adapt your charts to maximize real-world profitability.

Why Runout Poker is the Best Tool for Preflop Mastery

Studying static grids is an excellent baseline, but memorizing 169 combinations across dozens of shifting table scenarios takes deliberate, active practice. To turn this theoretical knowledge into real-time table intuition, you need an interactive way to drill these situations.

Runout Poker acts as a dedicated AI GTO poker trainer right in your pocket, replacing boring grid study with high-impact training tools:

• Interactive Preflop Drills: Put down the static preflop range chart and practice your opening, 3-betting, and defense frequencies in live-action, simulated scenarios.
• Adaptive GTO Quizzes: The app instantly identifies your strategic leaks, serving up targeted quizzes that test your boundaries against unexploitable GTO ranges.
• Real-Time Pressure Simulations: Train under a simulated shot clock to bridge the gap between slow out-of-game study and automatic, mathematically perfect execution at the tables.
• Shifting Stack Dynamics: Easily adjust table parameters to master how your poker preflop charts should dynamically evolve at 100bb, 40bb, or short-stack push/fold depths.

Ready to Master Your Preflop Strategy?

Studying static grids is an excellent baseline, but memorizing 169 combinations across different table scenarios takes deliberate practice. To turn this theoretical knowledge into real-time table intuition, you need an interactive way to drill these situations.

With Runout Poker, you get a dedicated AI GTO poker trainer right in your pocket. The app allows you to practice these exact preflop charts through structured drills, adaptive quizzes, and live hand simulations. By testing your boundaries on opening, 3-betting, and defense frequencies, Runout Poker bridges the gap between looking at a chart and making the mathematically perfect decision automatically under pressure.

 Download Runout Poker Today!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a poker range?

A poker range represents the entire collection of starting hands an individual player could realistically hold in a specific scenario based on their position, action history, and stack size.

What are poker preflop charts?

They are visual 13x13 grid matrices that map out exactly which hands to raise, call, or fold from every position at the table before any community cards are dealt.

How do I memorize poker charts?

Focus on memorizing the weakest "threshold" or cutoff hands for each position rather than trying to memorize every individual block on the grid.

What does RFI stand for?

RFI stands for "Raise First In," which refers to making the initial open-raise when all players ahead of you have folded.

Which poker hand chart is right for me?

Choose a chart that matches your specific game type (e.g., 6-Max cash games or multi-table tournaments) and aligns with your current playing stack depth.

What is the difference between GTO and exploitative preflop charts?

GTO charts offer an unexploitable, balanced mathematical baseline strategy. Exploitative charts adapt those baselines to maximize profit against common player mistakes and population tendencies.

Can I use preflop charts while playing online poker?

No. Referencing charts during live play violates terms of service on major poker networks. Charts are meant strictly as out of game study tools.