Texas hold ’em hand groups

David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth ^[1] assigned each hand to a group, and proposed all hands in the group could normally be played similarly. Stronger starting hands are identified by a lower number. Hands without a number are the weakest starting hands.

Pre-Flop Basic Strategy

	A	K	Q	J	T	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2
A	1	2	2	3	3	7	7	8	8	8	8	8	8
K	2	1	2	3	7	7	7
Q	3	4	1	3	8
J	3	4	4	1	3
T	4	7	8	7	2	6
9	8	7				3	6
8	8						4	6
7								4	6
6									5	8
5										5
4											5
3												5
2													5

• Note: Unsuited on the bottom left, suited on the top right.

Chen Point Count

There is a way to compute the Skalansky Malmuth table for those people who have trouble memorizing. The results are almost identical to those generated using the Chen Point Count.^[2] To compute the point count the following formula should apply:

1. Take the high card and score it. A=10,K=8,Q=7,J=6,T-2 = 1/2 value shown.
2. If the 2nd card pairs the first the value is either twice the high card point or 5 which ever is greater.
3. If they are not paired then calculate the gap for the lower card and subtract off a gap penalty:.
   1. For a 0 gapper subtract 0,
   2. For a 1 gapper subtract 1
   3. For a 2 gapper subtract 2
   4. For a 3 gapper subtract 4
   5. For a 4 gapper or more subtract 5 (includes A2,A3,A4).
4. If the cards are of the same suit apply a flush bonus of +2 pts.
5. If the cards are a 0 or 1 gap and the top card is a J or lower apply a +1 straight bonus
6. Round 1/2 point up

Then 12 – Chen Point Count in general is the SM hand grouping. Examples:

• 8♣ 8♠: 4 pts for the first 8, double for the pair is 8 Chen points. This puts it in S&M group 4.
• 9♣ 7♣: 4.5 points for the 9, -1 for the 1 gapper, +2 for the same suit and +1 for the straight bonus. Round up to 7 Chen points which is in S&M group 5.

The following hands are the exceptions (off by 1): 55, AQs, A9, AX, 96s, 32s, 98, 97, 76.

Notes

1. ^ David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth (1999). Hold ’em Poker for Advanced Players. Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1880685221
2. ^ Lou Krieger, Hold’em Excellence, ch Power Rating ISBN 1886070148

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.