Texas Hold'em Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need in One Place
Last updated: April 28, 2026
Hand rankings, starting hands, pot odds, outs, positions, and bet sizing — all in one reference page. Bookmark this page for your next poker session.
Hand Rankings
All 10 Texas Hold'em hands ranked from strongest (#1) to weakest (#10), with deal probabilities from a 7-card deal.
| Rank | Hand | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | 0.0032% |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 0.028% |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | 0.17% |
| 4 | Full House | 2.60% |
| 5 | Flush | 3.03% |
| 6 | Straight | 4.62% |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 4.83% |
| 8 | Two Pair | 23.5% |
| 9 | One Pair | 43.8% |
| 10 | High Card | 17.4% |
Probabilities are for the best 5-card hand from 7 cards (2 hole + 5 community) in Texas Hold'em.
Starting Hands
Your preflop range determines your win-rate. Only ~15% of all starting hands are profitable to play from early position.
| Tier | Hands |
|---|---|
| Premium (top 2%) | AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs |
| Strong (top 7%) | TT, 99, AQs, AJs, KQs, AKo |
| Playable (top 15%) | 88–77, ATs, KJs, JTs, AQo |
| Marginal (top 25%) | 66–22, A9s–A2s, suited connectors |
| Fold | Everything else |
"s" = suited, "o" = offsuit. Ranges expand significantly from the Button (BTN) and Cutoff (CO).
Outs — Rule of 4 & 2
Count your outs (cards that complete your hand), then apply the Rule of 4 & 2 to estimate your equity instantly at the table.
The Formula
| Outs | Draw Type | Flop→River | Turn→River |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pocket pair → Trips | 8% | 4% |
| 4 | Gutshot straight | 16% | 9% |
| 6 | Two overcards | 24% | 13% |
| 8 | Open-ended straight | 31% | 17% |
| 9 | Flush draw | 35% | 20% |
| 12 | Flush + gutshot | 45% | 26% |
| 15 | Flush + open-ended | 54% | 33% |
Pot Odds Quick Reference
If your equity (from the Outs table above) meets or exceeds the minimum equity to call, the call is profitable long-term.
| Bet Size | Pot Odds | Min. Equity to Call |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 pot | 20% | 20% |
| 1/3 pot | 25% | 25% |
| 1/2 pot | 33% | 33% |
| 2/3 pot | 40% | 40% |
| 3/4 pot | 43% | 43% |
| Full pot | 50% | 50% |
| 2x pot | 67% | 67% |
Poker Positions
Position is determined by where you sit relative to the dealer button. Later positions act last — a massive advantage.
Worst Position → Best Position (preflop)
| Position | Abbr. | Open Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under the Gun | UTG | ~15% |
| Middle Position | MP | ~22% |
| Cutoff | CO | ~28% |
| Button | BTN | ~40% |
| Small Blind | SB | ~35% |
| Big Blind | BB | Defend ~40% |
Bet Sizing Guidelines
Correct bet sizing builds pots when you're ahead and minimises losses when you're behind. These are standard-play defaults — adjust for opponent tendencies.
2.5–3x big blind
Add 1BB per limper in the pot.
~3x the open raise (4x from the blinds)
In-position 3-bets can be smaller (2.5x).
33–50% pot (dry board) · 50–75% pot (wet board)
Bet larger on boards that connect with your perceived range.
50–75% of pot
Go larger (75–100%) when your range is very strong and opponents are sticky.
Match to the pot odds you give opponents
At full pot (1:1 odds) → 50% of your river range can be bluffs.
Key Poker Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important concept in Texas Hold'em?
Position, position, position. Acting last gives you information your opponents don't have — you see their actions before deciding yours. In-position players win more pots at every stake level. Master positional awareness before anything else.
How do I avoid common beginner mistakes in poker?
Three fixes cover 90% of beginner leaks: (1) Play fewer hands — tighten your preflop range to the top 15–20%. (2) Play in position — prefer hands from the Button and Cutoff. (3) Don't bluff too much — bluff only when you have a credible story and the right bet-sizing. Most beginners bluff too often against calling stations.
What should I study first in poker?
Learn in this order: (1) Hand rankings so you never misread a board. (2) Starting hands so you enter pots with an advantage. (3) Pot odds so every call or fold is mathematically justified. (4) Position so you understand why your seat matters. That sequence builds a foundation that holds at every stake.
Go Deeper
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