MTT preflop strategy

BB range vs SB limp at 12 bb (3-max)

When the SB limps and you're in the BB, with an effective stack of 12 bb in a 3-max tournament, the solver plays 100.0% of its hands (check 57.0%, raise 3.00 bb 21.7%, all-in 21.3%) and folds 0.0%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Check 57.0%Raise 3.00 bb 21.7%All-in 21.3%

Each cell: the share of each action for that hand, left to right. Gray cell: hand not in the range at this point.

Key takeaways for this spot

  • The solver plays 100.0% of the hands that reach this spot, about 1,326 combos out of 1,326.
  • Check is the main action for 58.2% of hands: from 77 down to 62o, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 21.6% of hands: from AA down to 32o, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 20.2% of hands: from AJs down to 82o, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Conversely, the solver plays hands ranked outside the top 100, such as J6o, J2s, 96s, Q2o.

What changes at 10 bb (23 hands change action)

  • AKs: raise here, all-in at 10 bb
  • QJs: check here, raise at 10 bb
  • QJo: all-in here, raise at 10 bb
  • K9o: check here, all-in at 10 bb
  • Q9s: check here, raise at 10 bb
  • JTs: check here, raise at 10 bb

What changes at 15 bb (18 hands change action)

  • 77: check here, raise at 15 bb
  • AKo: all-in here, raise at 15 bb
  • K6s: raise here, check at 15 bb
  • K7o: check here, raise at 15 bb
  • K4s: all-in here, check at 15 bb
  • J9o: check here, raise at 15 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from BB, facing a limp, at 12 bb in 3-max?

The solver plays 100.0% of the hands that reach this spot, about 1,326 combos out of 1,326. Check is the main action for 58.2% of hands: from 77 down to 62o, the weakest hand played this way.

What should you do with small pairs (22 to 66) in this spot?

The solver's main action with each hand: 22 check, 33 check, 44 check, 55 check, 66 check.

What should you do with weak suited aces (A2s to A5s) in this spot?

The solver's main action with each hand: A2s all-in, A3s all-in, A4s all-in, A5s all-in.

How do you train on this spot?

Exploit It's free quiz deals you random hands in this exact spot and shows you the solver's answer after each choice.

Short stack: the push/fold chart, from 5 to 20 bb

The same spot at other depths
Related spots

Equilibrium computed by the Exploit It solver in chip-EV, antes included, open size 2 bb at 25 bb or less and 2.2 bb deeper. The model's range-width caps can make some EVs of unplayed actions optimistic: play the frequencies.