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Starting hands: how to read the matrix

The matrix groups two hole hold'em cards by value and suit. The color indicates the type of hand, rather than advice to fold or raise.

Three types of cells

There are pairs on the diagonal, for example AA. Above the diagonal are suited hands with the suffix, for example AKs. Below the diagonal are unsuited hands with the suffix o, for example AKo. A pair has 6 specific combinations of suits, a suited hand has 4, and an unsuited hand has 12. Therefore, 169 classes cover 1326 specific two-card hands before excluding known cards.

PairsSuitedOffsuit

High cardSecond cardType

Select a cell or ranks above to see the designation and number of combinations.

Position changes context

The Matrix is not a discovery chart. The decision depends on the format, position, effective stacks and previous actions. In 6-max and 9-max the order of participants is different. BTN stands for the dealer button, SB and BB are the small and big blinds. Preflop, after BTN, both blinds can still act. For heads-up the order is different and is not shown here.

BTNSBBBUTGHJCO

First action preflop: UTG → HJ → CO → BTN → SB → BB. After BTN, SB and BB operate if the trades reach them.

BTNSBBBUTGUTG+1MPLJHJCO

First action preflop: UTG → UTG+1 → MP → LJ → HJ → CO → BTN → SB → BB. After BTN, SB and BB operate if the trades reach them.

This section helps you read the symbols, but does not define the range of actions. Check the rules of the site: some networks prohibit accessing charts and external tips during the game.

Open Hold'em Calculator

Charts context: Poker Academy. Description of client statistics: GGPoker Smart HUD. Rules about hints during the game: GGPoker Security Ecology Policy.