Poker Cheat Sheet: Every Number, Table, and Formula You Need at the Table
This page is designed to be bookmarked. It contains every reference table, formula, and quick-lookup chart you need to make better decisions at the poker table. No fluff, no long explanations — just the numbers.
For deeper explanations of any concept, follow the links to our detailed guides.
1. Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠ |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 4♦ |
| 4 | Full House | Q♥ Q♠ Q♦ 8♣ 8♥ |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 5♦ 3♦ |
| 6 | Straight | T♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 2♠ |
| 8 | Two Pair | A♥ A♣ 9♠ 9♦ 4♥ |
| 9 | One Pair | J♦ J♣ A♠ 8♥ 3♦ |
| 10 | High Card | A♠ K♦ 9♣ 7♥ 2♠ |
2. Pot Odds by Bet Size
When villain bets, here's the minimum equity you need to call profitably. Memorize this table. → Full pot odds guide
| Villain bets (% of pot) | You need at least |
|---|---|
| 25% | 20% equity |
| 33% | 25% equity |
| 50% | 33% equity |
| 66% | 40% equity |
| 75% | 43% equity |
| 100% (pot-size) | 50% equity |
| 150% | 60% equity |
| 200% (2x pot) | 67% equity |
Quick formula: Equity needed = Amount to call / Total pot after you call.
3. Outs and Probabilities
"Outs" are the cards left in the deck that improve your hand to a likely winner.
| Draw type | Outs | Flop → River (~) | Turn → River (~) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gutshot straight draw | 4 | 16.5% | 8.7% |
| Two overcards | 6 | 24.1% | 13.0% |
| Open-ended straight draw (OESD) | 8 | 31.5% | 17.4% |
| Flush draw | 9 | 35.0% | 19.6% |
| Flush draw + gutshot | 12 | 45.0% | 26.1% |
| Flush draw + OESD | 15 | 54.1% | 32.6% |
The Rule of 2 and 4:
- Flop to river (2 cards to come): Multiply outs × 4 for approximate equity.
- Turn to river (1 card to come): Multiply outs × 2 for approximate equity.
Example: 9 outs for a flush draw. On the flop: 9 × 4 = 36% (actual: 35%). On the turn: 9 × 2 = 18% (actual: 19.6%). Close enough for in-game decisions.
4. Common Preflop Equity Matchups
These are approximate equities for common preflop all-in situations:
| Matchup | Favorite | Equity |
|---|---|---|
| AA vs KK | AA | 82% vs 18% |
| AA vs AKs | AA | 87% vs 13% |
| AA vs QJs | AA | 80% vs 20% |
| KK vs AKs | KK | 66% vs 34% |
| KK vs QQ | KK | 82% vs 18% |
| AKs vs QQ | 54% vs 46% | |
| AKo vs JJ | JJ | 57% vs 43% |
| AKs vs AQs | AKs | 70% vs 30% |
| Overpair vs underpair (e.g. QQ vs 88) | ~80% vs ~20% | |
| Pair vs two overcards (e.g. 77 vs AKo) | 77 | ~55% vs ~45% |
| Dominated hand (e.g. AK vs AJ) | AK | ~73% vs ~27% |
| Two random hands (e.g. K9o vs T7s) | Varies | ~55% vs ~45% |
Want exact equity for a specific matchup? Plug it into GrindLab's Equity Engine — it calculates equity for any hand vs any range in seconds.
Calculate hand equity, pot odds, and compare ranges with GrindLab's free equity engine
Try it free →5. Breakeven Bluff Frequency
When YOU bet as a bluff, here's how often villain needs to fold for your bluff to break even (assuming you have 0% equity when called):
| Your bet size (% of pot) | Villain must fold at least |
|---|---|
| 25% pot | 20% |
| 33% pot | 25% |
| 50% pot | 33% |
| 66% pot | 40% |
| 75% pot | 43% |
| 100% pot | 50% |
| 150% pot | 60% |
| 200% pot | 67% |
Formula: Breakeven fold% = Bet / (Bet + Pot)
This table is the mirror of the pot odds table. If villain needs 33% equity to call your half-pot bet, then you need villain to fold at least 33% of the time for a pure bluff to be profitable.
6. Minimum Defense Frequency (MDF)
MDF tells you the minimum percentage of your range you should defend (call or raise) against a bet to prevent villain from profiting with any bluff:
| Villain's bet size | You must defend at least |
|---|---|
| 25% pot | 80% of range |
| 33% pot | 75% of range |
| 50% pot | 67% of range |
| 66% pot | 60% of range |
| 75% pot | 57% of range |
| 100% pot | 50% of range |
| 150% pot | 40% of range |
| 200% pot | 33% of range |
Formula: MDF = Pot / (Pot + Bet)
Important: MDF is a theoretical concept. In practice, you should defend LESS than MDF against opponents who don't bluff enough, and MORE against opponents who over-bluff. This is one area where exploitation diverges from theory.
7. SPR (Stack-to-Pot Ratio) Quick Guide
SPR = Effective stack remaining / Pot size on the flop. It determines whether you're "committed" to the pot.
| SPR | What it means | Typical play |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 | Very low. You're essentially committed. | Get it in with top pair+, overpairs, strong draws |
| 3-6 | Low. Most strong one-pair hands are worth stacking off. | Stack off with overpairs, top pair top kicker |
| 6-10 | Medium. One pair is not always enough to go all-in. | Need two pair+ to comfortably stack off |
| 10-15 | High. Speculative hands gain value. | Sets, straights, flushes become big money makers |
| 15+ | Very high. Deep stack poker. | Focus on implied odds, multi-street play |
8. Expected Value (EV) Formula
EV = (Probability of winning × Amount won) - (Probability of losing × Amount lost)
Example: You call a $50 bet to win a $150 pot. You estimate 40% chance of winning.
EV = (0.40 × $150) - (0.60 × $50) = $60 - $30 = +$30
A positive EV means the play is profitable long-term. → Full EV guide
9. Position Names (6-max)
| Abbreviation | Full name | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| UTG | Under the Gun | First to act preflop |
| HJ | Hijack | Second to act (one before cutoff) |
| CO | Cutoff | One before the button |
| BTN | Button / Dealer | Last to act postflop |
| SB | Small Blind | Posts small blind, first to act postflop |
| BB | Big Blind | Posts big blind, second preflop |
In a 9-max game, add: UTG+1, UTG+2 (or LJ/Lojack).
10. Tournament-Specific Numbers
Bubble factor: The closer you are to the money, the more valuable your chips become for survival (and the less valuable they become for accumulation). A medium stack on the bubble should play tighter; a big stack should attack.
Risk premium: The extra equity you need above pot odds to call in a tournament vs a cash game. Typically 2-8% depending on ICM pressure. → Full ICM guide
Push/fold thresholds: Below 10-15bb in tournaments, your strategy simplifies to all-in or fold. Use Nash equilibrium charts or dedicated tools for optimal shove/call ranges.
11. Quick Reference: Key Poker Math
| Concept | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pot odds | Call / (Pot + Call) | $20 / ($80 + $20) = 20% |
| Equity needed to call | Same as pot odds | Need 20% equity to call |
| Breakeven bluff % | Bet / (Bet + Pot) | $50 / ($50 + $100) = 33% |
| MDF | Pot / (Pot + Bet) | $100 / ($100 + $50) = 67% |
| EV | (Win% × Win$) - (Lose% × Lose$) | See section 8 |
| Combos of a pair | 6 combos | AA = 6 combinations |
| Combos of suited hand | 4 combos | AKs = 4 combinations |
| Combos of offsuit hand | 12 combos | AKo = 12 combinations |
Bookmark This Page
This cheat sheet is updated regularly. Bookmark it and come back whenever you need a quick reference during your study sessions.
For deeper dives into any of these concepts, explore the full guides:
- Poker Equity Explained
- How to Calculate Pot Odds
- Expected Value (EV) in Poker
- Fold Equity Explained
- Implied Odds in Poker
- ICM in Poker Tournaments
- How to Build Poker Ranges
- Poker Glossary
And when you're ready to apply these numbers to real hands, open GrindLab — enter your hand, assign a villain range, and see your equity, pot odds, and verdicts instantly. Free during the open beta.