How to Use These Charts
These charts show opening ranges - which hands to raise when folded to you. If someone has already raised, you'll need to tighten up significantly (see our 3-bet strategy guide).
Understanding Position
- UTG (Under the Gun): First to act, tightest range. Only ~8% of hands.
- MP (Middle Position): Slightly wider, around 12% of hands.
- CO (Cutoff): Second-best position, ~20% of hands.
- BTN (Button): Best position, widest range ~30-40% of hands.
- SB (Small Blind): Wide open vs BB, tighter vs opens.
Pro Tip
These ranges are for 100bb deep 6-max cash games. Adjust tighter for tough games, wider for passive tables.
Why Position Matters
Position is the most important factor in poker. Playing in position means acting last, giving you more information before making decisions. This is why BTN can profitably open many more hands than UTG.
Common Mistakes
- Playing too many hands from early position
- Not opening wide enough from the button
- Calling instead of raising (raise or fold!)