MTT preflop strategy

UTG range vs SB 3-bet at 100 bb (8-max)

When you open from UTG and SB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 100 bb in a 8-max tournament, the solver plays 40.9% of its hands (call 26.6%, raise 26.98 bb 14.3%) and folds 59.1%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 59.1%Call 26.6%Raise 26.98 bb 14.3%

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 40.9% of the hands that reach this spot, about 95 combos out of 233.
  • Call is the main action for 24.0% of hands: from QQ down to K8s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 15.4% of hands: from AA down to A8s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as 88, ATs, AQo, AJo.

What changes at 70 bb (4 hands change action)

  • QQ: call here, raise at 70 bb
  • AQs: raise here, call at 70 bb
  • AQo: fold here, call at 70 bb
  • 64s: fold here, raise at 70 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from UTG, facing a 3-bet, at 100 bb in 8-max?

The solver plays 40.9% of the hands that reach this spot, about 95 combos out of 233. Call is the main action for 24.0% of hands: from QQ down to K8s, 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 fold, 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 fold, A4s fold, A5s fold.

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 up to 25 bb, 2.1 bb at 30 bb and 2.3 bb deeper. EVs of actions the equilibrium does not play are indicative: play the frequencies.