Interactive hand strength matrix for optimal pre-flop decisions
Named after our beloved Tim Rayner, who once folded pocket kings because he "had to take a work call." This section is for those magical moments when you need actual guidance instead of relying on "gut feelings" and "reading Bill's eyebrow twitch."
This calculator shows you the mathematical probability of winning with any starting hand. It's like having a PhD in Mathematics, except useful.
The percentages show your chance of winning against random hands:
Position is power. It's why Jan insists on the same chair every week and why Tim always leaves early when he's in the big blind.
The Sacrifice Zone - First to Act
Example hands: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK
Reality check: This is where dreams die and Tim folds everything
💡 Pro tip: If you're raising from here, you better have the goods or be Jan with "a feeling"
The Comfort Zone - Some Information
Add: AQ, AJ, KQ, Medium pairs
Reality: Where Peter contemplates life for 5 minutes per decision
💡 Pro tip: You can start playing suited connectors if Bill's been drinking
The Stealing Station - Late Position Power
Add: Suited aces, KJ, QJ, All pairs
Reality: Seb's favorite spot to "get creative"
💡 Pro tip: Start stealing blinds here, especially from Tim who's already mentally at home
The Throne - Maximum Power
Play: Any ace, Any pair, Most suited cards, Your grandmother's birthday numbers
Reality: Where Louie turns garbage into beachfront property
💡 Pro tip: You're last to act post-flop. This is basically a license to print money
The Defense Department - Already Invested
SB: Worst position in poker, like being Tim at any position
BB: You're getting odds to call, but you'll be out of position
💡 Pro tip: Don't throw good money after bad. Unless it's Thursday and we're all drunk anyway
A comprehensive guide to errors that only happen to "other people" and definitely not to seven distinguished gentlemen every Thursday night.
Playing Every Suited Hand
"But they were suited!" - Tim, holding 7-3 suited, circa every week
Taking 10 Minutes to Fold 7-2
"I'm thinking about the meta-game" - Peter, holding obvious garbage
Overplaying Ace-Rag
"Ace-high is a strong hand!" - Jan, losing to literally any pair
Position? What Position?
"I like this hand" - Bill, raising UTG with J-7 suited
Limping With Premium Hands
"I'm being deceptive" - Seb, letting everyone see a cheap flop with his aces
Falling in Love With Pocket Jacks
"Jacks are basically aces" - Louie, about to lose his stack
Because sometimes you need to know exactly what to do when Bill is on his 9th beer and Jan is giving his "I definitely don't have aces" speech.
Setup: You're in MP with A-J offsuit. UTG (Peter) has been folding for 45 minutes straight and just raised. Tim has already left. Bill is telling a story about banking regulations.
The Play: FOLD
Why: Peter only raises with premium hands. Your AJ is crushed by his range. Save your chips for when Bill starts playing "any two cards" after 10pm.
Setup: You're on the button with 7-8 suited. Everyone folded to you. Jan (SB) is checking his phone, Tim (BB) is already putting on his coat.
The Play: RAISE 3x BB
Why: This is a textbook steal situation. Even if called, you have position and a playable hand. Plus Tim will fold anything less than aces when he's in "leaving mode."
Setup: Special rules tonight - winner gets everyone's wine. You have pocket 5s UTG. This is the hand that determines whether you're drinking Château Margaux or Tim's Mercadona special.
The Play: FOLD
Why: Small pairs need to see cheap flops. UTG raises get too much action. Wait for better spots unless you want to explain to your wife why you came home with 7 bottles of €3 wine.
Setup: Jan raised UTG, Louie 3-bet from MP, Seb cold-4-bet from the button. You look down at QQ in the big blind. The testosterone in the room could be bottled and sold.
The Play: THINK, then probably FOLD
Why: This much action means someone has AA or KK. Your queens are pretty but so was the Titanic. Live to fight another hand.
Position is power in poker. The later you act, the more information you have and the wider your range can be.
Should you 3-bet? Enter the positions and your hand to get TAG-style guidance.
📱 On mobile: Scroll horizontally to view the full odds table
From "mortgage the house" to "fold pre-flop" - Know what beats what
When players have the same hand rank (like both having a pair), the "kicker" determines the winner.
Remember: In Texas Hold'em, you use the best 5 cards from your 2 hole cards + 5 community cards. That's why playing hands with good kickers (like A-K, A-Q) is important!