Ultimate Texas Hold'em strategy chart: when to raise 4x, bet 2x or fold

Raise 4x before the flop with pairs 33 and up, any ace, any suited king, K5o+, Q6s+, Q8o+, J8s+ and JTo: 69 of the 169 kinds of starting hand, or 38% of all 1,326 two-card hands. Check everything else (3x is never right). If you checked, bet 2x on the flop with two pair or better using a hole card; or a hidden pair: a pocket pair (not 22) or a hole card matching the flop; or four to a flush with a T or better of that suit in your hand. Otherwise check. If you checked again, bet 1x on the river with a hidden pair or better (the board alone does not make it); or fewer than 21 dealer outs. Otherwise fold.

That is the basic strategy. Its house edge is 2.381% of the Ante; perfect play, which differs from it only in rare flop and river spots, gets it down to 2.185%. See what every strategy costs on the house edge page.

When to raise 4x preflop

Bet 4x with the hands marked 4x, and check the rest. Perfect strategy and the basic card use the same chart.

4xBet 4x –Check. Pairs on the diagonal, suited hands above it, offsuit below. 69 of 169 hand kinds bet 4x; the rest check.

Close to the edge of the chart the choice barely matters: see Preflop close calls.

When to bet 2x on the flop

Only if you checked preflop. These are the basic flop rules:

1. Bet 2x with: Two pair or better using a hole card.
2. Bet 2x with: A hidden pair: a pocket pair (not 22) or a hole card matching the flop.
3. Bet 2x with: Four to a flush with a T or better of that suit in your hand.
4. Otherwise check.

Perfect play decides the flop by looking at every turn, river and dealer hand; the rules above match it almost always. Lessons: The flop: bet 2x or check, Tricky flops: paired boards, draws, small pairs.

When to bet 1x or fold on the river

Only if you checked twice. These are the basic river rules:

1. Bet 1x with: A hidden pair or better (the board alone does not make it).
2. Bet 1x with: Fewer than 21 dealer outs.
3. Otherwise fold.

Folding gives up your Ante and Blind. Lessons: The river: bet 1x or fold, Counting the dealer's outs.

Perfect strategy: the lowest house edge

The exact best option at every decision. It gives the lowest house edge, and nothing does better.

• Preflop: 4x with the hands on the chart (pairs 33 and up, any ace, any suited king, K5o+, Q6s+, Q8o+, J8s+, JTo), otherwise check. 3x is never best.

• Flop: the exact best of 2x or check, found by looking at every possible turn, river and dealer hand. The basic flop rule matches it almost always.

• River: the exact best of 1x or fold, found by looking at every dealer hand. The basic river rule matches it almost always.

• Perfect play differs from the basic rules only in rare spots; the EV sheet always shows the exact answer.

Basic strategy

The practical strategy: a chart you can learn, two flop rules and one river rule.

• Preflop: 4x with pairs 33 and up, any ace, any suited king, K5o+, Q6s+, Q8o+, J8s+ and JTo. Otherwise check.

• Flop: bet 2x with two pair or better that uses your cards, or a hidden pair (a pocket pair other than 22, or a hole card matching a flop rank), or four to a flush with a ten or higher of that suit in your hand. Otherwise check.

• River: bet 1x if you have a hidden pair or better, or if fewer than 21 unseen cards would beat you. Otherwise fold.

The rules in the three sections above are this card.

Simple strategy

The lightest practical strategy, with short preflop and flop rules.

• Preflop: 4x with pairs 33 and up, any ace, any king, Q8 or better, and JT. Otherwise check.

• Flop: bet 2x with two pair or better that uses your cards, or a hidden pair. Otherwise check. There is no flush rule.

• River: the same as basic.

Preflop chart

4xBet 4x –Check. Pairs on the diagonal, suited hands above it, offsuit below. 68 of 169 hand kinds bet 4x; the rest check.

On the flop

1. Bet 2x with: Two pair or better using a hole card.
2. Bet 2x with: A hidden pair: a pocket pair (not 22) or a hole card matching the flop.
3. Otherwise check.

On the river

1. Bet 1x with: A hidden pair or better (the board alone does not make it).
2. Bet 1x with: Fewer than 21 dealer outs.
3. Otherwise fold.

Habits that cost money

Common ways to play that give the house more. The house edge page prices each one.

Check to the river

The cautious player: never bets early, then decides exactly at the river. A common habit that is costly.

• Preflop: always check.

• Flop: always check.

• River: the exact best of 1x or fold.

Never fold

Checks every street and always bets 1x at the river. Shows what the "never fold" myth costs.

• Preflop and flop: always check.

• River: always bet 1x.

Always bet the maximum

Bets 4x every hand before the flop. The fun and maniac strategy.

• Preflop: always bet 4x, whatever the cards.

• There are no more decisions after that.

Learn it step by step

• Preflop: when to bet 4x: The exact preflop chart, in eight short rules.
• Preflop close calls: Where the chart's edges are, and how little they matter.
• The flop: bet 2x or check: Hidden pairs, two pair and good flush draws are 2x hands.
• The river: bet 1x or fold: Folding costs 2 antes for sure. Bet 1x when that's worse.
• Counting the dealer's outs: Fewer than 21 cards that beat you: bet 1x.
• Perfect strategy II: the card you can remember: A strategy card that costs 59¢ an hour more than perfect.
• What common habits really cost: The leaks players actually have, priced exactly.

Read about the bets and paytables or look up a term in the glossary.