MTT preflop strategy

CO range vs UTG open at 12 bb (9-max)

When UTG opens and you're CO, with an effective stack of 12 bb in a 9-max tournament, the solver plays 38.6% of its hands (call 34.7%, raise 5.20 bb 1.2%, all-in 2.7%) and folds 61.4%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 61.4%Call 34.7%Raise 5.20 bb 1.2%All-in 2.7%

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 38.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 512 combos out of 1,326.
  • Call is the main action for 35.1% of hands: from JJ down to T8s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 0.3% of hands: from T9s down to T9s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 3.2% of hands: from AA down to JTs, the weakest hand played this way.

What changes at 10 bb (7 hands change action)

  • T9s: raise here, all-in at 10 bb
  • Q8o: call here, fold at 10 bb
  • J9o: call here, fold at 10 bb
  • K2s: call here, fold at 10 bb
  • Q5s: call here, fold at 10 bb
  • T8s: call here, fold at 10 bb

What changes at 15 bb (3 hands change action)

  • AA: all-in here, raise at 15 bb
  • QQ: all-in here, call at 15 bb
  • 22: fold here, raise at 15 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from CO, facing an open, at 12 bb in 9-max?

The solver plays 38.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 512 combos out of 1,326. Call is the main action for 35.1% of hands: from JJ down to T8s, 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 call, 44 call, 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 call, 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.

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.