MTT preflop strategy

UTG range vs BB 3-bet at 40 bb (9-max)

When you open from UTG and BB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 40 bb in a 9-max tournament, the solver plays 72.8% of its hands (call 63.5%, raise 16.19 bb 9.3%) and folds 27.2%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 27.2%Call 63.5%Raise 16.19 bb 9.3%

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 72.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 165 combos out of 227.
  • Call is the main action for 67.4% of hands: from QQ down to T8s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 5.3% of hands: from AA down to KK, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as AJs, ATs, AJo, ATo.

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from UTG, facing a 3-bet, at 40 bb in 9-max?

The solver plays 72.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 165 combos out of 227. Call is the main action for 67.4% of hands: from QQ 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: 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: A4s fold, 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
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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.