The ante changes the pot you are playing for
The 0.5bb small blind, 1bb big blind, and 1bb big-blind ante put 2.5bb in the pot before anyone acts. These charts assume that structure and 30bb stacks. They should not be treated as no-ante cash ranges.
Move seat by seat
The opening order is UTG, UTG+1, LJ, HJ, CO, BTN, then SB. Compare the same hand across adjacent seats to see when it enters the range. There is no big-blind first-in chart because when everyone folds, the big blind has already won the pot.
The small blind has more than two actions
Most seats here raise to 2bb or fold. The small-blind strategy also includes limps and all-in raises, alongside its 3bb open. Keep all of those branches visible rather than reducing the chart to raise or fold.
Chip EV is different from prize-money EV
These charts optimise chips under their model’s assumptions. They do not model a particular bubble, final-table payout structure, bounty, or unequal stack distribution. Tournament payout pressure can change a decision even when the cards and your stack look the same.
How to read a poker range chart
The 13×13 grid contains all 169 starting-hand classes in No-Limit Texas Hold’em. Pairs run down the diagonal, from AA to 22. Suited hands sit above it (AKs), and offsuit hands below it (AKo). T means ten.
The legend gives the action and total range percentage. A split cell means the hand mixes actions: 75% raise and 25% fold means raising three quarters of the time. It does not describe the hand’s chance of winning. Raise sizes are the total bet in big blinds, not the extra amount added.
Overall percentages count card combinations: each pair has 6, each suited hand 4, and each offsuit hand 12, for 1,326 combinations in total. Simply counting coloured squares would give a different, misleading percentage.
Are these push/fold charts?
No. At 30bb, these ranges include non-all-in raises, and the small blind can also limp. A push/fold chart restricts the available actions and describes a different strategy.
Using these charts
Changing stack depth, rake, opening size, or the number of players changes the situation. Study the assumptions alongside the hands.
Put the range into practice
Make decisions, get feedback, and track your accuracy in the preflop drill.
Practise this range