MTT preflop strategy

SB range vs BB 3-bet at 17 bb (7-max)

When you open from SB and BB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 17 bb in a 7-max tournament, the solver plays 72.6% of its hands (call 34.7%, raise 11.96 bb 6.5%, all-in 31.4%) and folds 27.4%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 27.4%Call 34.7%Raise 11.96 bb 6.5%All-in 31.4%

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 72.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 3 combos out of 4.
  • Call is the main action for 45.1% of hands: from JJ down to 94s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 28.9% of hands: from AA down to JTs, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Conversely, the solver plays hands ranked outside the top 100, such as T5s, T4s, 97o, 94s.

What changes at 20 bb (3 hands change action)

  • 77: all-in here, call at 20 bb
  • QTs: all-in here, call at 20 bb
  • K7o: call here, fold at 20 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from SB, facing a 3-bet, at 17 bb in 7-max?

The solver plays 72.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 3 combos out of 4. Call is the main action for 45.1% of hands: from JJ down to 94s, 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: 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: 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
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.