Why Poker Hand Charts Matter
Poker hand charts distill complex mathematical relationships into a visual format your brain can process at table speed. Knowing that a flush beats a straight is trivial — but when you’re facing a bet on a wet board with three hearts and an open-ended straight draw, you need to recall hand rankings, estimate your equity, and compare to pot odds in about 10 seconds. Charts train this pattern recognition.
The most common charts are the hand rankings chart (all 10 types from Royal Flush to High Card) and the 13×13 starting hand grid (which pre-flop hands to play by position). Combined with pot odds and outs charts — available on our cheat sheet — these three references cover the mathematical foundation of poker strategy.
How to Read the 13×13 Grid
The 13×13 grid represents all 169 strategically distinct starting hands in Hold’em. Pairs are on the diagonal (AA, KK, QQ...). Suited hands are above the diagonal — the “s” suffix means both cards share a suit. Offsuit handsare below — they’re weaker versions of the same card combination.
The chart above shows a default 6-max range. In practice, you should adjust based on your position: tighter from UTG (top-left corner only), wider from the Button (most of the green and yellow cells). For a position-specific interactive version, use our Starting Hands Chart tool.
Charts vs. Game Feel
Charts are training wheels, not permanent strategy. The goal is to internalize the ranges until they become instinct. After a few thousand hands, you won’t need to look at a chart to know that KQs is playable from the Cutoff — you’ll feel it. But until then, keep a chart reference handy. There’s no pride penalty for consulting a chart during online play.
FAQ
- What is a poker hand chart?
- A poker hand chart is a visual reference that shows either the ranking of made hands (Royal Flush through High Card) or which starting hands to play from each position. Charts compress complex poker decisions into an easy-to-read grid format.
- How do I read a starting hand chart?
- The 13×13 grid shows all 169 unique starting hands. Pairs run along the diagonal. Suited hands are above the diagonal, offsuit below. Colors indicate the action: green = raise, yellow = call, gray = fold. The action changes based on your position at the table.
- Should I memorize poker hand charts?
- Memorize the hand rankings chart (10 types) — that's essential. For starting hand charts, it's better to understand the principles than memorize every cell: play tighter from early position, wider from late position, and prefer suited over offsuit. Use charts as training wheels until the ranges feel natural.
- What does suited vs offsuit mean on the chart?
- Suited means both cards share the same suit (e.g., A♠ K♠). Offsuit means different suits (e.g., A♠ K♥). Suited hands are more valuable because they can make flushes. On the 13×13 grid, suited hands are above the diagonal and offsuit hands are below.
- Can I print these poker charts?
- Yes — use your browser's print function (Ctrl/Cmd+P). For a more comprehensive printable reference that includes pot odds and outs, see our Poker Cheat Sheet page.