Poker Preflop Charts: GTO Opening Ranges by Position (2026)
Last updated: May 12, 2026
A poker preflop chart shows which hands to open, call, or fold based on your position at the table — the button opens approximately 45–50% of hands, while under-the-gun opens only 13–15%. GTO preflop charts are derived from solver simulations and express opening ranges as a percentage of all 169 possible starting hand combinations. Every position has a different optimal opening range because the button can steal blinds at low risk, while early position faces action from 6 more players. Reading a preflop chart correctly requires knowing the 13×13 hand grid: columns represent the highest card, rows represent the lowest card, pocket pairs run diagonally, suited hands appear above the diagonal, and offsuit hands below. This guide provides GTO-calibrated preflop opening charts for all 7 positions (UTG, HJ, CO, BTN, SB, BB), explains how to read a hand grid, and identifies which hands are always opens, always folds, and frequency-dependent.
How to Read a Poker Preflop Chart
Every preflop chart is built on the same 13×13 grid representing all 169 unique starting hand combinations. The 13 ranks run from Ace down to 2 along both axes. The top-left to bottom-right diagonal holds all pocket pairs (AA, KK, QQ, down to 22). Cells above the diagonal represent suited hands (where the column rank is lower than the row rank, so the higher card is on the left — e.g., AKs, AQs, KQs). Cells below the diagonal represent offsuit hands (e.g., AKo, AQo, KQo).
Finding KTs: K column + T row, above diagonal → suited → KTs
Finding AJo: A column + J row, below diagonal → offsuit → AJo
Finding 77: 7 row + 7 column, on diagonal → pocket pair → 77
The color coding in the charts below follows a consistent scheme: teal cells are hands you open-raise as first action (RFI), light teal cells are mixed-frequency opens (sometimes raise, sometimes fold depending on reads), orange cells are 3-bet or fold hands (never call), and red cells are always folds. Each color represents the highest-EV action in a balanced GTO strategy.
To use the charts in real time: identify your two hole cards, locate the higher card on one axis and the lower card on the other, check whether they are suited or offsuit to find the correct cell, then read the color to determine your action. Practice this lookup until it becomes automatic — recognizing hand categories by feel is faster than grid-scanning at the table.
UTG and HJ Opening Ranges (Early Position)
Under the gun is the tightest opening position because 6 players still act behind — any hand you play will frequently face a 3-bet or a call from a player with position. UTG opens approximately 13% in 6-max: TT+, AQs+, AKo form the always-open core. The hijack opens around 17%, adding 88–99, A9s, suited broadways like KJs and QJs, and JTs. Both positions avoid weak offsuit hands entirely and play suited connectors only selectively.
UTG Opening Range (~13%)
HJ Opening Range (~17%)
CO and BTN Opening Ranges (Late Position)
Late position is the most profitable seat at the table. Acting last postflop on every street allows you to control pot size, extract maximum value from strong hands, and apply pressure with marginal holdings. The cutoff (CO) opens ~25%: all pocket pairs through 66, broad broadway combinations, and suited connectors down to 87s. The button at 45–50% is the widest open position — you can steal blinds profitably with any two cards that have some equity or blocker value, including low suited connectors (54s, 43s), weak aces (A2s–A7s), and wide offsuit broadways. The BTN range includes every pocket pair down to 22.
CO Opening Range (~25%)
BTN Opening Range (~45%)
Big Blind Defense Chart
The big blind is the only position that has already committed chips to the pot — which means calling is cheaper and your defense frequency should be higher. Minimum Defense Frequency (MDF) defines how often you must continue to prevent opponents from profitably bluffing: MDF = 1 − bet ÷ (pot + bet). Against a standard BTN open of 2.5bb into a 1.5bb pot, MDF is approximately 60%. In practice, the BB defends around 40% (call + 3-bet) because out-of-position equity realization is reduced — you need more raw equity to compensate for acting first on every postflop street.
The BB 3-bet range vs BTN uses a polar structure: premium value hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, AKo, AQs) combined with low suited bluffs that have blocker value (A5s, A4s) and some connected boards hands (T8s, 97s, 86s). Everything else that defends does so by calling. Hands that are too weak to call or 3-bet profitably — very low offsuit cards with no connectivity or blocker value — fold despite the pot odds discount.
BB Defense vs BTN Open
How to Use These Charts at the Table
The most practical way to internalize preflop charts is progressive memorization. Start with the BTN range — it is the widest, most frequently played position, and its looseness gives you an intuition for what hands have minimum playable equity. Once you know the BTN range, apply the tightening rule: each position moving left (BTN → CO → HJ → UTG) drops roughly 5–8% of hands, primarily removing the weakest suited hands and low offsuit broadways first.
A useful mental framework is the "one step left" rule: if you know your CO range, your HJ range is roughly your CO range minus the bottom 7-8% — the weakest connectors and offsuit hands drop out first, while all pocket pairs and premium suited hands remain. This holds consistently across positions: the shape of the range stays similar while the size shrinks.
Adjust for stack depth during live play. Deep stacks (100bb+) justify opening speculative suited connectors and small pairs because implied odds are high — you can win large pots when you hit. At shorter stacks (30–40bb), those same hands lose their implied-odds justification and should be dropped. Below 25bb, switch to push/fold strategy: shove or fold all-in from every position, eliminating post-flop complexity. Always keep opponent tendencies in mind: against very loose callers, tighten up and remove pure steal hands; against very tight players, widen your stealing range further.
Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a poker preflop chart?
A poker preflop chart is a visual reference showing which hands to open-raise, call, 3-bet, or fold from each position at the table before the flop. GTO (Game Theory Optimal) preflop charts are derived from solver simulations — software tools that model all possible responses and compute Nash equilibrium strategies. The chart is displayed as a 13×13 grid representing all 169 unique starting hand combinations, color-coded by recommended action. Solvers calculate these ranges by balancing value hands with bluffs so opponents cannot profitably deviate against them. Use preflop charts as a study baseline: internalize the framework (which positions open tighter, which hands are always opens), then adjust for opponent tendencies at the table.
How many hands should I open from each position?
Opening frequency scales with position. In a 6-max game, UTG (under the gun) opens approximately 13% of hands — a tight range of premium pairs and top broadways. The hijack (HJ) opens around 17%, the cutoff (CO) around 25%, and the button (BTN) opens 45–50% — the widest range because the button acts last postflop on every street. The small blind (SB) opens roughly 35%, narrower than the button because the SB is out of position postflop and faces the BB 3-bet. The big blind defends approximately 40% versus a button open. In a 9-max full-ring game, all early-position ranges tighten by roughly 3–5% to account for additional players left to act.
What hands should I always open regardless of position?
A small core of hands is profitable to open from any position at any table: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AKs are always open-raises from UTG through BTN — they have sufficient equity and playability to generate value against any calling range. AKo and AQs are nearly always opens from all positions, with very rare exceptions in some ultra-conservative full-ring UTG strategies. TT, 99, and KQs become standard opens from UTG in most strategies. Below those hands, position determines whether a hand enters your range at all. The practical memorization tip: learn the 12–15 'always open' hands first; they account for roughly 7–8% of all hands dealt and represent the profitable core of every position's range.
Should I memorize preflop charts?
Memorizing preflop charts completely is unrealistic during live play — and not necessary for most players. The more effective approach is to internalize the structure. Start by learning the BTN opening range (~45%), since it is both the widest and the most commonly played position. Then apply the 'tighten by position' rule: each step left (BTN → CO → HJ → UTG) removes roughly 5–8% of the range, primarily cutting the weakest suited hands and low offsuit broadways first. During live play, focus on pattern recognition: 'Does this hand have a pair, two high cards, or connectivity/suitedness?' Use charts intensively during home study sessions and hand history reviews. Over time, correct opens become instinctive and charts become confirmation rather than reference.
How do 3-bet ranges differ from opening ranges?
3-bet ranges are significantly tighter than opening ranges — typically 8–12% of hands versus 13–45% for opens. They use one of two structures: a linear (or merged) range, which 3-bets only strong value hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, AKo) and is correct when the opener folds too infrequently; or a polar range, which combines premium value hands with high-equity bluffs (A5s, A4s, KQs blocked hands) and folds everything in between. The polar structure is the GTO default for most positions. The bluffing hands in a polar 3-bet range are chosen for blocker value — hands containing an Ace block the opponent from having AA/AK, reducing the frequency they 4-bet.
How does stack depth affect preflop charts?
Stack depth fundamentally changes preflop opening ranges. At 100 big blinds (standard deep stack), suited connectors (87s, 76s, 65s) and small pocket pairs (22–55) have strong implied odds — they can win large pots when they hit sets or straights, justifying loose opens from late position. As stacks shorten toward 40–50bb, implied odds collapse and speculative hands lose value; ranges tighten toward high-card dominated hands. Below 25–30bb, push/fold strategy replaces standard open-raising: the correct decision is either shove all-in or fold, eliminating post-flop play entirely. At 15bb and under, use an ICM-adjusted push/fold chart (slightly different for tournament versus cash game play). Stack depth also affects 3-bet and 4-bet sizing — deeper stacks allow smaller raise sizes and more post-flop play.
Related Topics
See preflop equity for any hand matchup
Enter your hole cards and any community cards — RiverOdds calculates your precise equity against 1–8 opponents instantly.
Open RiverOdds Calculator →