When learning the game of poker where do you start? Unless your room mate is either Phil Ivey or Tom Dwan, starting hand charts are not a bad starting point for anyone.

betfair poker pundits note that starting hand charts are often in the format of a 13 x 13 matrix containing all the possible starting hand combinations available in Texas Holdem. Each chart will represent a position at the poker table. Let’s take a 6 max cash game as an example. You would have separate charts for Under the Gun, Lo-Jack, Hi-Jack, Cut Off, Button, Small Blind and Big Blind.

Each chart will advise you which starting hands to open up the action with should the action be folded around to you in the first place. You can also create hand charts to help you understand which hand ranges you will cold call or three-bet a raiser with as well.

Just remember the most important point - the starting hand charts are guides. Poker is a dynamic and constantly evolving game. Your starting hand requirements will change dependant on your opponents tendencies.  Let’s imagine that you are opening up from the button with 37% of starting hands yet the players in the blinds are folding 85% of the time. With this dynamic it would make more sense to open a much wider range than 37%.

Those looking at the betfair bonus will tell you that it is easier to climb over a wall if your mate is going to give you a leg up. Starting hand charts are a leg up in the game of poker - so use them. 

Just google the words poker starting hand charts and you will find plenty of people waiting to give you a leg up over that wall.