Poker Strategy Charts — Free Reference Hub
Last updated: May 15, 2026
12 essential poker reference charts covering every major decision in Texas Hold'em: starting hands, position-specific opening ranges, outs-to-equity, pot odds, push-fold, MDF, c-bet sizing, set mining math, ICM, bet sizing, hand matchups, and suited connectors. Memorizing the top 3 charts (starting hands, outs, pot odds) saves most players 5+ bb/100. Full chart literacy moves players from break-even to 5-10 bb/100. This hub links to every detailed chart on RiverOdds.
The 12 Essential Poker Charts
Each chart below links to a detailed page with the full data, examples, and application. Charts are ordered by use frequency — top charts are the ones you'll consult most often.
Best Starting Hands (Top 20) →
All 169 distinct starting hands ranked by equity vs random — AA 85.3% down to QJs 59.2%.
When to use: Every preflop decision. Foundation chart for tightening your VPIP from 35% to 20-25%.
Preflop Opening Ranges (Position) →
Color-coded grids for UTG (13-15% open), HJ (17-19%), CO (25-30%), BTN (45-50%), SB.
When to use: When deciding whether to open from each position. The most-used poker chart.
Poker Outs Chart →
Outs (1-15+) converted to equity via Rule of 4 and 2. Flush draw = 9 outs = 35% flop-to-river.
When to use: When facing a bet with a drawing hand. Quick lookup for equity calculation.
Pot Odds Quick Reference →
Bet size as % of pot → required equity to call profitably. 1/3 pot = 25%, 1/2 = 33%, pot = 50%.
When to use: Every call decision. Compare your equity to required equity to find +EV calls.
Push-Fold (Nash Equilibrium) →
Push and call ranges for 5bb-15bb stacks. BTN shoves ~30% at 10bb; BB calls ~36-40%.
When to use: Tournament short stack play (under 15bb). Defines correct all-in vs fold thresholds.
Minimum Defense Frequency (MDF) →
MDF = 1 - bet/(bet+pot). At 1/2 pot defend 67%; at 1× pot defend 50%; at 2× pot defend 33%.
When to use: When facing aggression to know minimum hands you must continue with to prevent exploitable folding.
C-Bet Sizing by Board Texture →
Dry boards (K-7-2 rainbow): 33% pot, 70-80% frequency. Wet boards (J-T-9 two-tone): 66-75% pot, 30-45% frequency.
When to use: After raising preflop and being called. Choose bet size based on board texture and range advantage.
Set Mining Math →
Pocket pairs flop a set 11.8%. Rule of 15: need 15× the call in effective stacks to set-mine profitably.
When to use: Pocket pair preflop decisions vs raises and 3-bets. Defines whether the implied odds justify the call.
Suited Connectors Strategy →
32 suited connector combos. Flop a draw 28%, flop a made hand 4%. Best from CO/BTN with 100bb+.
When to use: Whenever you hold T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, etc. Position-specific decisions.
ICM (Tournament Decisions) →
ICM converts chip stacks to dollar equity. Most impactful at bubbles and final tables.
When to use: Late-stage tournament decisions where chip EV and dollar EV diverge.
Bet Sizing Strategy Reference →
Bet sizes (1/4 pot to 2× overbet) mapped to MDF, bluff:value ratios, and pot odds for opponents.
When to use: Every bet decision. Choosing between value sizing, protection sizing, and bluff sizing.
Hand Matchup Probabilities →
Common matchups: AA vs KK 82/17, JJ vs AKo 56.7/43.3, set vs flush draw 65/35. All-in equity reference.
When to use: When deciding to call all-in. Quick lookup of equity for common confrontations.
The 3 Charts to Memorize First
If you can only memorize three poker charts, make these your priority. Together they fix 80% of the most common beginner-to-intermediate leaks.
Starting Hands (Position-Based)
Defines which of 169 hands to play from each position. UTG 13-15%, BTN 45-50%. Fixes the #1 losing-player leak (VPIP 35-50%).
Outs to Equity (Rule of 4 and 2)
Flush draw = 9 outs = 35% flop-to-river. OESD = 8 outs = 31.5%. Gutshot = 4 outs = 16.5%. Enables fast pot-odds decisions at the table.
Pot Odds to Required Equity
Half-pot bet = 33% required equity. Pot-sized bet = 50%. Two-thirds pot = 40%. Compare to your hand equity for instant call/fold decisions.
Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
What poker charts should I have memorized?
Three charts are essential: (1) Starting hands chart by position (UTG 13%, BTN 45%); (2) Outs to equity (flush draw 9 outs = 35%, OESD 8 outs = 31%, gutshot 4 outs = 16%); (3) Pot odds to required equity (1/3 pot = 25% required, 1/2 = 33%, full pot = 50%). After these three, learn push-fold ranges for tournaments and MDF for facing aggression. Most other charts are situational.
Should I print poker charts and use them at the table?
It depends on the venue. Online: yes — charts can be open in another window and consulted between hands. Live casino: no — most card rooms don't allow printed materials at the table. Home games: depends on the host's preference. The deeper purpose of charts is memorization — once you've used them for 1,000+ hands, they become internalized and you stop needing the physical reference.
Are poker charts up to date with modern strategy?
Modern poker charts are GTO-calibrated using solvers like PioSolver. They reflect equilibrium strategies for typical opponent ranges. Older charts (pre-2015) may use outdated heuristics like the Chen formula or Sklansky groups — these are historically interesting but suboptimal for modern play. RiverOdds charts are calibrated for 2024-2026 game conditions and 100bb cash games unless otherwise specified.
How do I memorize poker charts?
Three-step process: (1) Study the chart for 5-10 minutes daily for 2 weeks; (2) Play 500-1,000 hands using the chart as reference, consulting it for each marginal decision; (3) Play 2,000+ hands without the chart, validating retention via tracking software. After 3,000-5,000 hands of deliberate use, starting hand charts become automatic. Outs and pot odds calculations should be automatic by 5,000-10,000 hands.
Why do preflop ranges change by position?
Later position has two advantages: (1) more information about opponents' hands (you act after them), and (2) higher likelihood of being in position post-flop. These advantages compound: BTN players realize ~95% of their equity vs UTG players' 70-80%. The result: BTN can profitably open hands like 65s and Q9o that lose money from UTG. This is the math behind position-based ranges.
What's the difference between Sklansky hand groups and modern charts?
David Sklansky's hand groups (Theory of Poker, 1987) categorized starting hands into 8 groups based on heuristic strength. Modern charts use GTO solvers (PioSolver, GTO+) to calculate exact equilibrium ranges. Sklansky groups are still useful as a simplified beginner framework but produce slightly tighter ranges than modern GTO. The Chen formula (Bill Chen, 2006) is a numeric scoring system that bridges old and new approaches.
Can I just memorize one chart and play winning poker?
Almost — a tight position-based opening chart will save most players 5+ bb/100 by itself. But the full math edge requires: (1) preflop charts for opening AND defending against 3-bets, (2) pot odds and outs for calling decisions, (3) MDF for facing aggression, (4) push-fold for tournament short stacks. Players who memorize only opening ranges plateau at break-even; full chart literacy moves you to 5-10 bb/100.
Apply charts in real time — no memorization
RiverOdds computes equity, pot odds, and outs instantly. Use it alongside the charts above for fastest decisions.
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