MTT preflop strategy

CO range vs SB 3-bet at 25 bb (4-max)

When you open from CO and SB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 25 bb in a 4-max tournament, the solver plays 65.2% of its hands (call 46.1%, raise 11.00 bb 2.9%, all-in 16.3%) and folds 34.8%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 34.8%Call 46.1%Raise 11.00 bb 2.9%All-in 16.3%

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 65.2% of the hands that reach this spot, about 278 combos out of 426.
  • Call is the main action for 47.1% of hands: from QQ down to 64s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 16.4% of hands: from AA down to A3s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as A9o, A8o, KTo, A7o.
  • Conversely, the solver plays hands ranked outside the top 100, such as 96s, 86s, 76s, 85s.

What changes at 30 bb (8 hands change action)

  • QQ: call here, all-in at 30 bb
  • ATo: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • A5s: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • QJo: fold here, call at 30 bb
  • A2s: fold here, all-in at 30 bb
  • K5s: fold here, call at 30 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from CO, facing a 3-bet, at 25 bb in 4-max?

The solver plays 65.2% of the hands that reach this spot, about 278 combos out of 426. Call is the main action for 47.1% of hands: from QQ down to 64s, 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: 44 fold, 55 call, 66 call.

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

The solver's main action with each hand: A2s fold, 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.

The same spot at other depths
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Equilibrium computed by the Exploit It solver in chip-EV, antes included, open size 2 bb, a little more at deep stacks (up to 2.5 bb on the button at 100 bb), 2 to 3.5 bb from the SB. EVs of actions the equilibrium does not play are indicative: play the frequencies.