MTT preflop strategy

MP range vs UTG open at 15 bb (7-max)

When UTG opens and you're MP, with an effective stack of 15 bb in a 7-max tournament, the solver plays 16.8% of its hands (call 11.3%, raise 5.20 bb 1.1%, all-in 4.4%) and folds 83.2%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 83.2%Call 11.3%Raise 5.20 bb 1.1%All-in 4.4%

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 16.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 223 combos out of 1,326.
  • Call is the main action for 11.8% of hands: from QQ down to A4s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 0.3% of hands: from KJs down to KJs, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 4.8% of hands: from AA down to JTs, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as KTo, A7o, K8s, A3s.

What changes at 12 bb (7 hands change action)

  • QQ: call here, all-in at 12 bb
  • AQs: call here, all-in at 12 bb
  • ATs: call here, all-in at 12 bb
  • 66: all-in here, call at 12 bb
  • KJs: raise here, all-in at 12 bb
  • KTs: all-in here, call at 12 bb

What changes at 17 bb (6 hands change action)

  • KK: all-in here, call at 17 bb
  • TT: all-in here, call at 17 bb
  • AJs: all-in here, call at 17 bb
  • 66: all-in here, call at 17 bb
  • KJs: raise here, call at 17 bb
  • KTs: all-in here, call at 17 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from MP, facing an open, at 15 bb in 7-max?

The solver plays 16.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 223 combos out of 1,326. Call is the main action for 11.8% of hands: from QQ down to A4s, 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 fold, 33 fold, 44 fold, 55 call, 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 fold, A3s fold, A4s call, A5s call.

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.