Select your position, then click any hand to see the recommended action.
This interactive chart helps you decide which hands to play before the flop in Texas Hold'em. Follow these steps:
Starting hand selection is the most fundamental decision in Texas Hold'em. Your position at the table determines how many hands you can profitably play because of one key factor: information asymmetry.
When you act last (Button), you see everyone's decision before making yours. This information advantage lets you play a wider range of hands because you can more accurately assess the strength of the remaining opponents. From Under the Gun, you act first with no information β so you need stronger hands to compensate.
Suited hands (same suit) can make flushes, adding approximately 2-3% equity over their offsuit equivalents. This is why AKs appears in raise ranges at positions where AKo might only be a call. The flush potential also provides better implied odds.
From UTG, stick to premium hands: AA through TT in pocket pairs, plus AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, and KQs in suited broadways. This represents roughly the top 10-12% of starting hands. Everything else should be folded.
Later positions let you play more hands because you have more information. From the Button you can profitably play 35-45% of hands; from UTG only 10-15%. The information advantage of acting last outweighs having slightly weaker cards.
Red = Raise (open-raise or 3-bet to build the pot), Yellow = Call (see a flop at a discount), Gray = Fold (hand is too weak for this position). Colors change when you switch positions.
Use it as a solid baseline, then adjust based on table dynamics. Against very tight opponents, widen your range. Against aggressive players, tighten up. Stack depth, tournament stage, and opponent tendencies all matter.
Above the diagonal (top-right) shows suited combinations; below (bottom-left) shows offsuit. Suited hands are stronger because they can make flushes, adding ~2-3% equity.