In chapter 6 of Advanced Texas Hold’em, Advanced Texas Hold’em, David Hamms presents a practical starting-hand chart designed to help players quickly adjust their pre-flop decisions based on table conditions, position, and overall hand strength.
Purpose of the Starting Hand Chart
Hamms explains that the chart is meant as a reference tool, not a rigid rulebook. It organizes starting hands by their overall winning percentages and links them to recommended positions across different game types. The goal is to help players develop a probability-based approach rather than memorize fixed instructions.
The chart emphasizes that the value of a hand changes depending on how many players are seeing the flop and how aggressively the table plays before the flop.
Defining the Three Game Types
Hamms divides tables into three broad categories, each requiring a different approach to starting-hand selection:
Loose Games
Loose tables typically have six to ten players seeing the flop with very little pre-flop raising. In these games:
-
speculative hands gain value due to implied odds,
-
position matters greatly,
-
but players must still avoid playing too many weak hands early.
Typical Games
Typical games see two to five players per flop, with occasional pre-flop raises. These tables require more selectivity:
-
hands should be chosen with the expectation that a raise may occur,
-
marginal hands lose value if they cannot withstand pressure,
-
position increasingly dictates profitability.
Tight Games
Tight tables feature frequent pre-flop raises and very few multi-way flops. In these environments:
-
strong hands and aggression dominate,
-
speculative hands are usually restricted to late position,
-
and pre-flop steals and re-raises become more effective.
Position and Hand Selection
A major component of the chart is position-based guidance. Hamms clarifies how early, middle, and late positions affect which hands are playable under different conditions. Early position demands stronger holdings, while late position allows more flexibility—especially in loose or passive games.
The chart uses percentage-based suggestions to indicate how often certain hands should be played in tighter conditions, reinforcing that poker decisions are probabilistic, not absolute.
Premium Hands and Aggression
Top-tier hands—such as high pocket pairs and premium big-card combinations—are recommended for aggressive play in all game types and positions. Hamms emphasizes consistent raising and re-raising with these hands to:
-
build pots with strong equity,
-
reduce the number of opponents,
-
and deny correct odds to weaker holdings.
These hands form the backbone of a solid pre-flop strategy regardless of table texture.
Middle and Lower-Tier Hands
As hand strength decreases, the chart becomes more conservative:
-
medium pocket pairs and suited Broadway hands gain value primarily in looser games or later positions,
-
small pocket pairs and suited connectors rely heavily on implied odds and position,
-
weak offsuit hands are mostly restricted to very specific situations.
Hamms’ recommendations reflect how these hands perform statistically and how vulnerable they are to domination.
Flexibility Over Memorization
Hamms explicitly warns against memorizing the chart and following it mechanically. He argues that poker is dynamic, and strict adherence makes a player predictable. Instead, the chart should be used to:
-
study relative hand strength,
-
compare win percentages,
-
understand why certain hands are playable in certain spots.
Players are encouraged to adapt based on opponents, stack sizes, and betting patterns.
Learning the Rules Before Breaking Them
The chapter closes with an analogy: just as artists learn fundamentals before developing their own style, poker players must first understand structured guidelines before deviating intelligently. The chart provides that foundation, helping players recognize when a deviation is justified and profitable.
Core Takeaway
Chapter 6 reinforces that starting hands are not universally good or bad—they gain or lose value based on table type, position, and aggression levels. By using the chart as a framework rather than a script, players can build a flexible, probability-driven pre-flop strategy that adapts to real-game conditions.