MTT preflop strategy

UTG range vs BB 3-bet at 50 bb (9-max)

When you open from UTG and BB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 50 bb in a 9-max tournament, the solver plays 50.8% of its hands (call 32.4%, raise 19.32 bb 18.4%) and folds 49.2%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 49.2%Call 32.4%Raise 19.32 bb 18.4%

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 50.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 111 combos out of 218.
  • Call is the main action for 30.3% of hands: from JJ down to K8s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 19.4% of hands: from AA down to 64s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as 88, ATs, AJo, A9s.
  • Conversely, the solver plays hands ranked outside the top 100, such as 64s.

What changes at 40 bb (8 hands change action)

  • QQ: raise here, call at 40 bb
  • A8s: fold here, call at 40 bb
  • 55: fold here, call at 40 bb
  • A6s: call here, fold at 40 bb
  • QTs: raise here, fold at 40 bb
  • K8s: call here, fold at 40 bb

What changes at 70 bb (6 hands change action)

  • QQ: raise here, call at 70 bb
  • AJs: call here, raise at 70 bb
  • A8s: fold here, call at 70 bb
  • QJs: raise here, fold at 70 bb
  • QTs: raise here, fold at 70 bb
  • 64s: raise here, fold at 70 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from UTG, facing a 3-bet, at 50 bb in 9-max?

The solver plays 50.8% of the hands that reach this spot, about 111 combos out of 218. Call is the main action for 30.3% of hands: from JJ 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.