MTT preflop strategy

SB range vs BB 3-bet at 20 bb (4-max)

When you open from SB and BB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 20 bb in a 4-max tournament, the solver plays 66.1% of its hands (call 41.2%, raise 11.96 bb 2.2%, all-in 22.7%) and folds 33.9%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 33.9%Call 41.2%Raise 11.96 bb 2.2%All-in 22.7%

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 66.1% of the hands that reach this spot, about 35 combos out of 54.
  • Call is the main action for 39.5% of hands: from JJ down to 42s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 22.2% of hands: from AA down to 33, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as K9o.
  • Conversely, the solver plays hands ranked outside the top 100, such as T5s, 86s, 97o, 76s.

What changes at 17 bb (11 hands change action)

  • 88: call here, all-in at 17 bb
  • KJo: call here, all-in at 17 bb
  • QTs: call here, all-in at 17 bb
  • Q9s: call here, all-in at 17 bb
  • Q8s: fold here, call at 17 bb
  • K5s: call here, all-in at 17 bb

What changes at 25 bb (16 hands change action)

  • 99: all-in here, call at 25 bb
  • 77: all-in here, call at 25 bb
  • 66: all-in here, call at 25 bb
  • KQo: all-in here, call at 25 bb
  • 55: all-in here, call at 25 bb
  • QJs: all-in here, call at 25 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from SB, facing a 3-bet, at 20 bb in 4-max?

The solver plays 66.1% of the hands that reach this spot, about 35 combos out of 54. Call is the main action for 39.5% of hands: from JJ down to 42s, 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: 33 all-in, 44 all-in, 55 all-in, 66 all-in.

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.