MTT preflop strategy

HJ range vs BTN 3-bet at 25 bb (8-max)

When you open from HJ and BTN 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 25 bb in a 8-max tournament, the solver plays 67.7% of its hands (call 45.8%, raise 11.96 bb 0.8%, all-in 21.0%) and folds 32.3%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 32.3%Call 45.8%Raise 11.96 bb 0.8%All-in 21.0%

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 67.7% of the hands that reach this spot, about 289 combos out of 428.
  • Call is the main action for 47.4% of hands: from JJ down to 87s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 20.1% of hands: from AA down to A2s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as ATo, A9o, A8o, KTo.

What changes at 30 bb (8 hands change action)

  • QQ: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • AQo: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • AJo: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • 66: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • A4o: fold here, all-in at 30 bb
  • A3o: fold here, all-in at 30 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from HJ, facing a 3-bet, at 25 bb in 8-max?

The solver plays 67.7% of the hands that reach this spot, about 289 combos out of 428. Call is the main action for 47.4% of hands: from JJ down to 87s, 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 call, 33 call, 44 call, 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 all-in, A3s call, 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.

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.