Ask ten poker players which hands to play from each position and you'll get ten different answers — but the good answers all rhyme. A preflop starting hand chart is simply a memorized reference for which hands are strong enough to play from where, so you stop guessing under pressure and start making the same solid decision every time. This guide breaks the chart down in plain language rather than a wall of colored boxes.
Why a chart works better than "feel"
New players often play by instinct, which usually means playing too many hands because a king or an ace "looks good." A chart removes the guesswork by tying hand strength to two things that actually matter: the raw strength of the two cards, and your position at the table. If you haven't yet, it helps to first understand the basics in our guide to Texas Hold'em rules before applying a chart to real hands.
Tier 1 — Play from anywhere
These hands are strong enough to raise from any seat at the table, including first to act:
- Pocket Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks
- Ace-King (suited or offsuit)
- Ace-Queen suited
Tier 2 — Play from middle position onward
- Pocket Tens, Nines
- Ace-Queen offsuit, Ace-Jack suited
- King-Queen suited
- Ace-Jack offsuit (call rather than raise against aggression)
Tier 3 — Play from late position or the blinds
- Small and medium pocket pairs (22–88) — great for flopping a set
- Suited connectors like 9-8, 8-7, 7-6
- Suited aces like A-5, A-4, A-3
- King-Jack suited, Queen-Jack suited
Everything else — usually a fold
If a hand isn't in one of the tiers above, treat it as a fold in a standard raised pot. That includes almost all offsuit hands with a low kicker, disconnected low cards, and "trap" hands like J-3 or Q-6 offsuit that only look playable because of the face card. For a deeper look at exactly which hands fall into this bucket, see our companion piece on the worst starting hands in poker.
How position shifts the chart
The chart above is not fixed — it stretches or shrinks depending on where you're sitting. From under the gun (first to act), stick tightly to Tier 1 because eight players still have to act behind you and someone is more likely to hold a monster. From the button, you can comfortably add most of Tier 2 and Tier 3 because you'll see how everyone else acts before you have to decide anything on later streets. This is the single most important adjustment beginners skip, and it's covered in full in our guide to why position matters and our companion article on playing hands by position preflop.
Suited versus offsuit — why it matters more than people think
Two cards of the same suit add real value because they give you a shot at a flush, roughly a 1-in-3 chance of completing one by the river when you flop a flush draw. That's why A-5 suited is a perfectly fine hand to see a flop with in late position, while A-5 offsuit usually is not. When comparing two hands of similar rank, always favor the suited version if you're deciding whether to stretch the chart.
Adjusting the chart for the table you're at
A chart is a starting point, not a rulebook carved in stone. Against very passive opponents who rarely raise, you can loosen up and see more flops cheaply. Against aggressive players who bet often, tightening back toward Tier 1 and Tier 2 keeps you out of trouble. The chart gives you a disciplined default; experience teaches you when to bend it.
Turn the chart into a habit
Memorizing a chart on paper is one thing — using it under the pressure of a live decision is another. The fastest way to make it automatic is repetition at the table. Poker House offers free Texas Hold'em multiplayer tables with a fun Wild-West theme, no real-money gambling, just Chips and Gems. Play a free hand now and start putting this chart into action seat by seat.