Poker Range Chart: How to Read and Memorize the Charts

Every serious player has, at some point, looked for a poker range chart: those colored grids that show which hands to play depending on position. But you still have to know how to read them, understand what they say, and — the hardest part — memorize them. This free guide covers it all.

The 13×13 grid: how to read a range chart

A range chart always rests on the same base: the grid of the 169 starting hands, i.e. 13 columns × 13 rows. Here's how it's organized:

• The diagonal (from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner) holds the pairs: AA, KK, QQ… down to 22.
• The triangle above the diagonal: the suited hands (same suit), marked "s" — e.g. AKs, T9s.
• The triangle below: the offsuit hands (different suits), marked "o" — e.g. AKo, T9o.

Each cell is colored according to the recommended action: play / raise / 3-bet / fold. A range is simply the set of "play" cells in a given situation.

The main types of range charts

You'll mostly come across these families of charts:

Open charts (RFI — Raise First In). Which hands to open when no one has raised yet, depending on your position. The closer you are to the button, the wider the range: UTG opens tight, the BTN opens wide.

3-bet charts. Which hands to raise against an open. They mix value hands (QQ+, AK) and blocker bluffs (A5s, A4s). We break it all down in the 3-bet in poker.

BB defense charts. Which hands to defend (call or 3-bet) from the big blind against an open.

Nash push/fold charts. In a tournament or a short-stacked Spin & Go, which hands to jam depending on the number of blinds. See Nash push/fold in Spin & Go.

Why ranges change with position

This is the key concept to grasp before memorizing anything. The later you act in the betting round, the more information you have and the more hands you can play. Hence:

• UTG (first to act): tight range, ~15% of hands.
• CO / BTN: wide range, up to ~45-50% on the button.
• Blinds: specific ranges, because you'll be playing out of position post-flop.

Understanding this logic makes you retain the charts much faster: you're not memorizing an arbitrary list, you're memorizing a logic with a few exceptions. To dig deeper, read poker positions.

The real problem: retaining the chart in play

Here's the trap with range charts: looking at them isn't enough. In a real game, you don't have the time or the right to open a chart. You need the range in memory, instantly.

And that's where most players get stuck. They re-read their charts over and over, under the illusion of knowing them — until, at the table, they hesitate on 9To in the CO.

The solution isn't to re-read more, but to test yourself: rebuild the range from memory and correct your mistakes.

How to memorize a range chart effectively

The method that works comes down to three principles:

1. Active recall. Rebuild the range cell by cell from memory, rather than re-reading it. Every corrected mistake anchors it durably.
2. Spaced repetition (SRS). Review each range right before you forget it. Shaky ranges come back often, solid ones rarely.
3. One layer at a time. Master the opens before the 3-bets, one format before the next.

We develop this method in learning ranges for free and how to memorize your ranges.

Where to find reliable range charts

You can import your own charts (from Range Manager .rm, in text notation like AA,KK,QQ+, or in JSON) or start from a library of preloaded GTO ranges: Nash push/fold, 6-max opens, etc. What matters isn't so much the source as your ability to memorize them and play them without hesitation.

FAQ

How do you read a poker range chart? On the 13×13 grid: pairs on the diagonal, suited hands (s) above, offsuit hands (o) below. The colored cells show which hands to play in the given situation.

Are ranges the same at every position? No. The closer you are to the button, the wider your open range. The blinds have specific ranges because you play out of position after the flop.

How do you memorize a range chart for good? Through active recall (rebuilding the range from memory) and spaced repetition (reviewing at the right time). Passive re-reading isn't enough.

Can you train ranges for free? Yes. Forge.poker offers the 13×13 quiz, spaced repetition and chart import for free, no credit card.

Conclusion

A range chart is only worth something if you have it in your head at the table. Learn to read it, understand the positional logic behind it, then memorize it through active recall and spaced repetition. That's how a chart goes from the screen into your game.