MTT preflop strategy

UTG range vs CO 3-bet at 12 bb (9-max)

When you open from UTG and CO 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 12 bb in a 9-max tournament, the solver plays 54.7% of its hands (call 54.7%) and folds 45.3%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 45.3%Call 54.7%

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 54.7% of the hands that reach this spot, about 75 combos out of 138.
  • Call is the main action for 57.9% of hands: from AA down to 55, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as A9s, ATo, A8s, KTs.

What changes at 10 bb (6 hands change action)

  • A9s: fold here, call at 10 bb
  • A8s: fold here, call at 10 bb
  • KTs: fold here, call at 10 bb
  • KQo: fold here, call at 10 bb
  • QJs: fold here, call at 10 bb
  • QTs: fold here, call at 10 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from UTG, facing a 3-bet, at 12 bb in 9-max?

The solver plays 54.7% of the hands that reach this spot, about 75 combos out of 138. Call is the main action for 57.9% of hands: from AA down to 55, 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 call, 66 call.

What should you do with mid offsuit aces (A7o to ATo) in this spot?

The solver's main action with each hand: A8o fold, A9o fold, ATo 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.

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, a little more at deep stacks (up to 2.5 bb on the button at 100 bb), 2 to 3.5 bb from the SB. EVs of actions the equilibrium does not play are indicative: play the frequencies.