Okay, here's the matrix. As you get used to it, you'll find you're memorizing it pretty well, so if you play at brick-and-mortar casinos where something like this chart may not be permitted (or, as in my case, too embarrassing to use), the benefits will still be available. Take a look at it, print a copy and I'll explain a few things about it below.
| Limit Hold 'em Basic Strategy from GameMasterOnLine.com | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Re-raise/Raise | Call All Raises | Call 1 Raise Only | Call Only ("Limp") |
| UTG (# 7) | A-A, A-Ks, K-K/ A-Ko,Q-Q | A-Qs, J-J | A-Js, KQs, 9-9 | A-Jo, K-Qo, 8-8 |
| EP (#6) | A-A, A-Ks, K-K/ A-Ko,Q-Q | A-Qo, K-Qs, 9-9 | A-Js, KQs, 9-9 | A-Jo, K-Qo, 8-8 |
| MP (#5) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, J-J | A-Qo, K-Qs, 9-9 | A-Js, K-Js, Q-Js, 8-8 | A-10s, K-Jo, Q-Jo, J-10s, 7-7 |
| MP (#4) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, J-J | A-Qo, K-Qs, 9-9 | A-Js, K-Js, Q-Js, 7-7 | A-10s, K-Jo, Q-Jo, J-10s, 6-6 |
| MP (#3) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, J-J | A-Qo, K-Qs, 9-9 | A-Js, K-Js, Q-Js, 6-6 | A-10s, K-Jo, Q-Jo, J-10s, 5-5 |
| LP (#2) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, K-Qs, 10-10 | A-10s, K-Qo, 8-8 | A-5s, A-Jo, K-9s, Q-10s, J-10s | A-10o, K-Jo, Q-Jo, 10-Jo, 10-9s, 4-4 |
| LP (Cutoff - #1) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, K-Qs, 10-10 | A-10s, K-Qo, 8-8 | A-5s, A-Jo, K-9s, Q-10s, J-10s | A-10o, K-Jo, Q-Jo, 10-Jo, 10-9s, 3-3 |
| Button (#0) | A-A, A-Ko, K-K/ A-Qs, K-Qs, 10-10 | A-2s, A-10o, K-2s, K-Qo | A-2o, K-8o, Q-9o, J-9o, 10-9o, 9-8o | |
| Button (Cont.) | Q-8s, Q-Jo, J-10s, 10-8s, 8-8 | 8-7o, 7-7, 7-6s, 6-6, 6-5s, 5-5 to 2-2 | ||
| Small Blind | A-A, K-K, Q-Q/A-Ko, A-Qs, K-Qs | A-2s, A-Jo, K-2s, K-10o, Q-8s | Complete Only | |
| SB (Cont.) | Q-Jo, J-J, J-7s, 10-10, 10-8s | A-8o, K-8o, Q-9o, J-8o, 10-9o, 9-8o | ||
| SB (Cont.) | 9-9, 9-8s, 8-8 to 4,4 | 8-7o, 7-6o, 6-5s, 5-4s, 4-3s, 3-3, 2-2 | ||
| Big Blind | A-A to J-J/A-Ko, A-Qs, K-Qs | A-2s, A-10o, K-2s, K-Jo, Q-2s | A-2o, K-9o, Q-9o, J-8o, 10-8o, | |
| BB (Cont.) | Q-Jo, J-2s, J-10o,10-10, 10-xs | 9-7o, 8-7o, 7-6o, 6-5o, 5-4o, 4-3o, | ||
| BB (Cont.) | 9-9, 9-xs, 8-8, 8-5s, 7-7, 7-5s | 3-2s, 2-2 | ||
| BB (Cont.) | 6-6, 6-4s, 5-5, 5-3s, 4-4, 4-3s, | |||
| BB (Cont.) | 3-3 | |||
This matrix is basically a compilation of the charts shown in the prior lessons with only a few changes. For some charts, I had added a category "Call 1 Raise Only", which is designed to keep you out of pots that have been raised and then re-raised. As you can easily see, most of the "Re-raise" hands in the Matrix are a pair of Queens or higher, so if a re-raised bet comes to you, it should be called only by hands in the "Call All Raises" category and, truth be told, probably some of those will be rather loose calls in a higher-stakes game where the players know what they're doing. You'll see that the hands played on the "button" are of the "call all raises" or "limp only" type. That's, of course, because position plays such an important part in this game; there's not a lot of need to be cautious when playing from the button, but we don't want to be stupid about it. Another notation, "Complete Only" is found in the Small Blind section and it refers to a SB bet that is 50% of the Big Blind. If completion requires a larger bet (like if the SB is $1 and the BB is $3), then you should use the "Call All Raises" section only. I included the recommended hands for both Blind bets, which puts a lot of additional information on the chart, so I find it easier to just keep the separate charts presented in the lessons covering the Blinds at hand, consequently my personal copy of the matrix doesn't show them. Since this was produced as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, if you'd like a copy, email me and I'll be happy to send it and you can modify it for yourself, if you wish.
As I created this matrix, I hopefully was accurate in transposing the information over from the charts presented in each individual lesson, but as I often say, I'm not really perfect - I only act that way - so if you see an error, please let me know. Beyond that, I think the matrix is pretty much self-explanatory but don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Regarding future lessons, I can tell you that I'm doing some theoretical work of the type I've yet to see in print (although somebody, somewhere, has undoubtedly done it before me) and I'll hopefully have that ready for publication soon. In the meantime, good luck and thanks to those who say hello to me out there on the tables. It's nice to be recognized.
