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.

Last updated - January 1, 2007