Preflop: when to bet 4x
The exact preflop chart, in eight short rules.
Before the flop there are 1,326 possible two-card hands, in 169 kinds (pairs, suited and offsuit). For each one, the app has the exact EV of betting 4x, betting 3x and checking, with perfect play afterwards. The answer for every one of them fits in eight rules.
Bet 4x with:
- Any pair of threes or better (33+). Check deuces.
- Any ace (A-2 offsuit and up).
- King, suited: any suited king (K2s+).
- King, offsuit: K5o and better.
- Queen, suited: Q6s and better.
- Queen, offsuit: Q8o and better.
- Jack, suited: J8s and better.
- Jack, offsuit: JTo only (and JQ, JK, JA above it).
Check everything else: every hand with a ten or lower as its top card (except pairs), and the weaker kings, queens and jacks.
This isn't a simplification. It is exactly the optimal preflop strategy for the standard Blind paytable: the app solved every hand, and all 169 kinds match these rules. The same list is published in the Wizard of Odds strategy and in the PokerListings guide. You'll bet 4x on 500 of the 1,326 hands (37.7%).
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AA 4x | AKs 4x | AQs 4x | AJs 4x | ATs 4x | A9s 4x | A8s 4x | A7s 4x | A6s 4x | A5s 4x | A4s 4x | A3s 4x | A2s 4x |
| K | AKo 4x | KK 4x | KQs 4x | KJs 4x | KTs 4x | K9s 4x | K8s 4x | K7s 4x | K6s 4x | K5s 4x | K4s 4x | K3s 4x | K2s 4x |
| Q | AQo 4x | KQo 4x | QQ 4x | QJs 4x | QTs 4x | Q9s 4x | Q8s 4x | Q7s 4x | Q6s 4x | Q5s check | Q4s check | Q3s check | Q2s check |
| J | AJo 4x | KJo 4x | QJo 4x | JJ 4x | JTs 4x | J9s 4x | J8s 4x | J7s check | J6s check | J5s check | J4s check | J3s check | J2s check |
| T | ATo 4x | KTo 4x | QTo 4x | JTo 4x | TT 4x | T9s check | T8s check | T7s check | T6s check | T5s check | T4s check | T3s check | T2s check |
| 9 | A9o 4x | K9o 4x | Q9o 4x | J9o check | T9o check | 99 4x | 98s check | 97s check | 96s check | 95s check | 94s check | 93s check | 92s check |
| 8 | A8o 4x | K8o 4x | Q8o 4x | J8o check | T8o check | 98o check | 88 4x | 87s check | 86s check | 85s check | 84s check | 83s check | 82s check |
| 7 | A7o 4x | K7o 4x | Q7o check | J7o check | T7o check | 97o check | 87o check | 77 4x | 76s check | 75s check | 74s check | 73s check | 72s check |
| 6 | A6o 4x | K6o 4x | Q6o check | J6o check | T6o check | 96o check | 86o check | 76o check | 66 4x | 65s check | 64s check | 63s check | 62s check |
| 5 | A5o 4x | K5o 4x | Q5o check | J5o check | T5o check | 95o check | 85o check | 75o check | 65o check | 55 4x | 54s check | 53s check | 52s check |
| 4 | A4o 4x | K4o check | Q4o check | J4o check | T4o check | 94o check | 84o check | 74o check | 64o check | 54o check | 44 4x | 43s check | 42s check |
| 3 | A3o 4x | K3o check | Q3o check | J3o check | T3o check | 93o check | 83o check | 73o check | 63o check | 53o check | 43o check | 33 4x | 32s check |
| 2 | A2o 4x | K2o check | Q2o check | J2o check | T2o check | 92o check | 82o check | 72o check | 62o check | 52o check | 42o check | 32o check | 22 check |
4xBet 4x –Check. Pairs on the diagonal, suited hands above it, offsuit below. 69 of 169 hand kinds bet 4x; the rest check. Outlined: 33, A2o, K2s, K5o, Q6s, Q8o, J8s, JTo.
Why does a hand like deserve 4x? An ace is the strongest high card, and even when nobody pairs, ace high often wins against a dealer who failed to qualify. Betting 4x earns +0.042 antes; checking earns −0.082.
Why not more hands? A hand like looks pretty, and it even wins money if you check (+0.205 antes). But betting 4x earns slightly less (+0.185). Ten-nine wins only a little more often than it loses at showdown. If you check, you can bet 2x when the flop hits you and fold the hopeless rivers, and that flexibility is worth more than the bigger bet.
Show the math: What the chart is worth
EV per hand under perfect play, by preflop decision:
- Bet 4x (500 of 1,326 hands): average EV +0.703 antes. Aces +3.601, kings +3.289, AKs +1.658, AKo +1.172.
- Check (826 hands): average EV −0.461 antes. 72o −0.883, 22 −0.179.
Overall: −0.02185 antes per hand. 37.71% of hands are 4x, 21.28% bet 2x on the flop, 21.82% bet 1x on the river and 19.19% fold.
Quiz
Which hand should you bet 4x preflop?
- Bet 4x
- Check
Show the answer
A: Bet 4x. Any ace is a 4x hand.
Quiz
Which hand should you bet 4x preflop?
- Bet 4x
- Check
Show the answer
B: Check. Offsuit kings need a 5 or better: K5o+. K4o is a check (a close one).
Quiz
Which hand should you bet 4x preflop?
- Bet 4x
- Check
Show the answer
B: Check. Every pair from 33 up is 4x. Deuces are the one pair you check.
Quiz
About what share of hands are 4x hands?
- About 10%
- About 25%
- About 38%
- About 60%
Show the answer
C: About 38%. 500 of the 1,326 possible hands: 37.7%.