MTT 101
Pre-Flop Ranges
Opening Ranges
• Not prescriptive. Factors which can change them include:
– Multiple short stacks that can shove behind versus open.
– Aggressive players to your left.
– Extremely tight table.
• Can open wider range when ante is in play.
• Open very tight range from earlier positions.
• The closer we get to the BTN, the wider our opening range
should be.
• Be disciplined!
UTG & UTG+1 RFI
Without ante:
7.09% (94 combos)
66+,ATs+,AQo+
With ante:
11.31% (150 combos)
44+,ATs+,KJs+,ATo+,KQo
MP RFI
Without ante:
11.01% (146 combos)
44+,ATs+,KJs+,JTs,T9s,
AJo+,KQo
With ante:
13.73% (182 combos)
22+,ATs+,KTs+,QJs,JTs,T9s,
98s,AJo+,KJo+
LJ RFI
Without ante:
13.42% (178 combos)
22+,A5s+,KJs+,JTs,T9s,
AJo+,KQo
With ante:
17.35% (230 combos)
22+,A2s+,KTs+,QJs,JTs,T9s,
98s,87s,ATo+,KJo+
HJ RFI
Without ante:
14.33% (190 combos)
22+,A2s+,KJs+,JTs,T9s,
AJo+,KQo
With ante:
18.25% (242 combos)
K9s-
KTs,QTs+,98s,87s,76s,ATo,K
Jo
CO RFI
Without ante:
20.97% (278 combos)
22+,A2s+,K9s+,Q9s+,JTs,T
9s,98s,87s,A9o+,KTo+,QJo
With ante:
29.11% (386 combos)
22+,A2s+,K9s+,Q9s+,J9s+,
T9s,98s,87s,76s,65s,A8o+,A
4o-A5o,K9o+,Q9o+,J9o+
BTN RFI
Without ante:
42.08% (558 combos)
22+,A2s+,K2s+,Q2s+,J6s+,T6s
+,95s+,85s+,75s+,65s,54s,43s
,A2o+,K9o+,Q9o+,J9o+,T9o
With ante:
47.51% (630 combos)
22+,A2s+,K2s+,Q2s+,J2s+,T5s
+,95s+,85s+,75s+,64s+,53s+,
42s+,32s,A2o+,K8o+,Q8o+,J8o
+,T9o
SB RFI
Without ante:
35.44% (470 combos)
22+,A2s+,K8s+,Q8s+,J8s+,T7s
+,97s+,87s,76s,65s,A2o+,K9o
+,Q9o+,J9o+,T9o
With ante:
40.27% (534 combos)
22+,A2s+,K8s+,Q8s+,J7s+,T7s
+,97s+,86s+,75s+,65s,54s,A2o
+,K8o+,Q8o+,J8o+,T9o,98o
Calling Ranges
• Our pre-flop calling range facing an open should be tighter
than our pre-flop opening range.
– We don’t push fold equity.
– BB is the exception to this rule.
• Our calling range can usually be described as ‘capped’. This has
post-flop implications.
• We can use pot odds to calculate the equity our hand needs
versus our opponent’s opening range to profitably call.
– Call size / (pot size + call size) * 100 = equity required versus range to
call.
– Consider equity realisation given hand and position.
3-Betting
• Why 3-Bet?
– To get value.
– To push fold equity.
– To isolate weaker player(s)
• Smaller size when 3-betting in position (around 3x opening size
+ 2bb for every caller).
• Larger size when out of position (around 4x opening size + 2bb
for every caller).
• The earlier the position of the opener, the tighter our 3-betting
range should be.
3-Bet Example: SB VS UTG
UTG RFI SB 3-Bet VS UTG
3-Bet Example: BB VS SB
SB RFI BB 3-Bet VS SB RFI
Calling 3-Bets
• Understanding pot odds to calculate equity required versus
range:
– Call size / (pot size + call size) * 100 = equity required versus range to
call.
– Remember that we will likely under-realise our equity in 3-bet pots as
the caller due to a range disadvantage and lack of initiative.
• The smaller the 3-bet size is, the wider our calling range can be
(and vice versa).
• Consider post-flop playability and equity retention when
structuring 3-bet calling ranges.
Example: BB 3-Bet VS SB Open
• 9-handed table, 10% ante.
• SB opens to 3bb.
• BB 3-bets to 6.5bb.
• SB must call 3.5bb to win 10.4bb.
• Equity required versus range: (3.5 / (10.4 + 3.5) *
100) = 25.1%.
Example: BB 3-Bet VS SB Open
CONTINUED
BB 3-Bet VS SB RFI SB Call VS BB 3-Bet
SB RFI Equity VS BB 3-Bet
4-Betting
• Should be done infrequently because:
– 3-betting ranges are typically strong at micro stakes.
– We want to play a low-variance style in these early stages.
• Smaller relative size than 3-bet size (approximately
2.5x the size of the 3-bet).
• 4-betting range can expand versus later position
open/3-bets.
4-Betting Example: UTG VS SB 3-Bet
SB 3-Bet VS UTG RFI UTG 4-Bet VS SB 3-Bet
4-Betting Example: SB VS BB 3-Bet
BB 3-Bet VS SB RFI SB 4-Bet VS BB 3-Bet
Stacking Off
• In these early stages (when we are usually 50bb+
deep), we should only be calling all-ins with QQ,KK,AA
and AK.*
• If effective stacks are 100bb+, this range should be
limited to only KK and AA.*
*EXCEPT IF THERE IS A HUGE WHALE SPLASHING ABOUT!
