Gambling terms, explained straight

Poker

Gto poker chart 9 max

A GTO poker chart for a 9-max table tells you which starting hands to raise or fold before the flop, based on your seat position and game-theory-optimal strategy.

Table size
9-handed1
Typical raise size
3 BB1
Preflop style
Raise or fold; limping not recommended except in the small blind1

Key points

  • Earlier positions use narrower ranges; later positions use wider ranges.1
  • The chart maps each starting hand to an action such as raise or fold based on table position and assumed optimal strategy.1
  • GTO preflop play is generally raise or fold, with limping discouraged outside the small blind.1

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Gto poker bot — a software agent that plays or analyzes poker, not a chart
  • 6-max poker positions — a 6-handed table structure with different positional ranges, not for 9-handed charts
Poker Gto poker The broader game-theory-optimal strategy concept that this chart implements for preflop play. Poker Preflop range chart 9-max A similar chart showing preflop ranges for a 9-handed table, often used alongside GTO charts. Poker Preflop poker chart Any chart showing preflop starting-hand recommendations, not necessarily GTO. Poker Poker odds chart A chart showing probabilities of making hands, not starting-hand ranges. Poker Poker starting hands chart A general chart of recommended starting hands, which may or may not be GTO. Poker Poker hands The ranking of poker hand values, not a preflop strategy chart.

Sources

  1. Are ChatGPT and GPT-4 Good Poker Players? - A Pre-Flop ... arxiv.org Defines GTO poker chart 9-max, table size, raise size, and preflop style.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.