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A preflop poker cheat sheet tells you exactly which cards to raise, call, or fold before the community cards appear. By folding weak holdings early and entering pots with a raise rather than a limp, you avoid costly postflop mistakes and control the pot with mathematical advantage [1], [3].
Before the flop, your starting seat and the action ahead of you dictate your profitable options [3], [5]. The following guide outlines standard starting hand tiers, positional open-raising percentages, and betting rules for beginners.
Table of Contents
- How to Read Range Notation and Table Positions
- Preflop Poker Cheat Sheet: Opening Ranges by Position
- Bet Sizing and 3-Betting Rules
- Postflop Odds Calculation: The Rule of 2 and 4
- Preflop Decision Checklist
- Sources
How to Read Range Notation and Table Positions
Preflop ranges compress starting cards into a standardized format [3]:
Pair (
TT+): Pocket tens and any higher pair (TT, JJ, QQ, KK, AA) [3]. There are 6 combinations of every pocket pair [3].Suited (
s): Both hole cards share the same suit (e.g.,AKshas 4 combinations) [1], [3]. Suited hands hold extra value because they can make flushes [1].Offsuit (
o): Hole cards are different suits (e.g.,AKohas 12 combinations) [1], [3].Sequence (
A5s-A2s): A bounded run of hands (A5s,A4s,A3s,A2s) [3].
Action moves clockwise around the table [1], [5]. The seats are divided into four primary groups: 1. Early Position (UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2): Acts first preflop [1]. You must play the tightest range here because the rest of the table acts after you [1]. 2. Middle Position (MP / Lojack, Hijack): Allows a slightly wider range as fewer players remain behind [1], [2]. 3. Late Position (Cutoff, Button): The most profitable seats [1], [2]. The Button (dealer) acts last on every postflop betting round [1], [2]. 4. Blinds (Small Blind, Big Blind): Mandatory forced bets [1]. The Small Blind acts first on postflop streets, making it a tricky position despite getting a discounted price [1], [2].
The notation “TT+” refers to pocket tens and any higher pocket pair, specifically TT, JJ, QQ, KK, and AA. Every pocket pair has 6 possible combinations.
Early Position acts first before the flop, meaning the rest of the table gets to act afterward. Playing a tighter range helps prevent difficult situations when facing action from multiple players behind you.
The Button is the most profitable seat because it acts last on every postflop betting round, giving the player complete positional advantage throughout the hand.
Preflop Poker Cheat Sheet: Opening Ranges by Position
When action folds to you in an unopened pot, enter with a raise rather than calling the big blind [1], [5]. The following baseline shows typical raise-first-in (RFI) frequencies and hand categories for a 9-handed cash game [1]:
| Position | Open Frequency | Recommended Opening Holdings |
|---|---|---|
| Under the Gun (UTG) | ~10% | Pairs 66+, AJs+, KQs, AQo+ [1] |
| UTG+1 / UTG+2 | ~13% | Pairs 44+, ATs+, KJs+, AQo+ [1] |
| Middle Position (MP) | ~16% | Pairs 22+, A9s+, KTs+, QJs, AJo+ [1] |
| Hijack (HJ) | ~20% | Add suited connectors (JTs, T9s, 98s), KJo, ATo [1] |
| Cutoff (CO) | ~27% | Wider suited aces (A9s-A2s), KTo, QTs, more suited connectors [1] |
| Button (BTN) | ~45% | Any pocket pair, most suited hands, most aces, broad offsuit holdings [1] |
| Small Blind (SB) | ~40% | Wide range, but out of position for the remainder of the hand [1] |
Top premium hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, AKo) should always be raised or re-raised from any seat for value [1]. Against wide ranges, pocket aces hold over 84% preflop equity [2]. Weak offsuit hands (K9o, Q9o, J8o, A8o-A2o, T7o, 96o) lose money over time and should be folded [1].
To explore broader game fundamentals and table habits, see our guide on Play Your Cards Smarter: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Game.
Entering an unopened pot with a raise rather than calling the big blind establishes control of the pot and helps you avoid costly postflop mistakes with a mathematical advantage.
Premium holdings such as AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, and AKo should always be raised or re-raised from any seat for value. Against wide ranges, pocket aces maintain over 84% preflop equity.
Weak offsuit cards such as K9o, Q9o, J8o, A8o-A2o, T7o, and 96o lose money over the long run and should be folded preflop.
Bet Sizing and 3-Betting Rules
Inconsistent bet sizing reveals the strength of your hand to observant opponents [2], [5]. Rely on standardized sizing as a baseline:
Unopened Open-Raises: Open between 2x and 3x the big blind (typically 2.5x in online games or 3x–4x in live games) [2], [3]. If players have limped ahead of you, add 1 big blind per limper to your base raise size [3].
3-Betting In Position (Button or Cutoff): Raise to roughly 3x the original open [1], [2], [3].
3-Betting Out of Position (Blinds or Early Position): Raise to roughly 4x the original open to compensate for acting first postflop [2], [3].
A solid 3-betting strategy balances value hands (QQ+, AK) with suited bluffing candidates that carry blocker properties, such as A2s-A5s [4]. For deeper discussions on countering opponents over the long term, review our breakdown on Thinking Like a Pro: Advanced Strategies for Challenging the House.
| Action Scenario | Position / Context | Recommended Baseline Sizing |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened Pot Open-Raise | Standard Table Action | 2x–3x big blind (typically 2.5x online, 3x–4x live) [2], [3] |
| Open-Raise Facing Limpers | Any Position | Base open size + 1 big blind per limper [3] |
| 3-Betting | In Position (Cutoff, Button) | ~3x the original open [1], [2], [3] |
| 3-Betting | Out of Position (Blinds, Early Position) | ~4x the original open [2], [3] |
Start with a standard open-raise baseline between 2x and 3x the big blind, then add 1 big blind for each player who limped before your turn.
A 3-bet out of position is typically sized to roughly 4x the original open—compared to about 3x in position—to compensate for having to act first on postflop streets.
A balanced 3-betting range combines strong value hands like QQ+ and AK with suited bluffing candidates that possess blocker properties, such as A2s-A5s.
Postflop Odds Calculation: The Rule of 2 and 4
When a preflop call leads to a postflop drawing hand, compare your pot odds against your likelihood of completing the draw [1]:
$$\text{Pot Odds} = \frac{\text{Call Amount}}{\text{Total Pot After Your Call}}$$
If an opponent bets \$50 into a \$100 pot, your call is \$50 into a resulting \$200 pot, requiring a 25% chance of winning to break even [1].
To calculate your drawing equity on the fly, count your “outs” (cards left in the deck that improve your holding) and apply the Rule of 2 and 4 [1]:
On the Flop (two cards to come): Multiply outs by 4 [1].
On the Turn (one card to come): Multiply outs by 2 [1].
| Draw Type | Outs | Flop Equity (Outs × 4) | Turn Equity (Outs × 2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush Draw | 9 | ~35% | ~19% [1] |
| Open-Ended Straight Draw | 8 | ~32% | ~17% [1] |
| Gutshot Straight Draw | 4 | ~17% | ~9% [1] |
| Pocket Pair to a Set | 2 | ~8% | ~4% [1] |
Divide your call amount by the total pot size after your call is added. For instance, calling a $50 bet into a $100 pot results in a $200 total pot, requiring 25% equity to break even.
Count your remaining outs and multiply them by 4 on the flop when two community cards are left to come. On the turn with only one card remaining, multiply your outs by 2.
Preflop Decision Checklist
Before committing chips on any preflop hand, answer these four questions in order [3]: 1. What is my seat? Identify your position relative to the dealer button [1], [3]. 2. What was the prior action? Confirm if the pot is unopened, raised, or facing multiple callers [3]. 3. What is the effective stack? Identify the shortest remaining stack involved in the pot [3]. 4. Is this hand a raise or a fold? Avoid open-limping; enter with standard sizing or release the cards [1], [3].
Note on usage: Most online poker operators strictly ban having software or real-time charts open during active play [1], [4]. Use this reference away from the table to study and drill ranges until opening decisions become second nature [1], [4].
You should verify your table position relative to the button, the prior action, the effective stack size of the shortest player involved, and whether your cards warrant a standard raise or a fold.
Most online poker operators strictly ban using real-time charts or assistance software during active play. These resources are intended to be studied away from the table to internalize standard opening ranges.