MTT preflop strategy

UTG range vs HJ 3-bet at 70 bb (9-max)

When you open from UTG and HJ 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 70 bb in a 9-max tournament, the solver plays 39.6% of its hands (call 16.6%, raise 14.70 bb 22.9%) and folds 60.4%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 60.4%Call 16.6%Raise 14.70 bb 22.9%

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 39.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 84 combos out of 211.
  • Call is the main action for 19.9% of hands: from 99 down to 66, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Raise is the main action for 21.8% of hands: from AA down to AKo, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as 88, ATs, AJo, A9s.

What changes at 50 bb (2 hands change action)

  • AKo: raise here, call at 50 bb
  • KJs: fold here, call at 50 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from UTG, facing a 3-bet, at 70 bb in 9-max?

The solver plays 39.6% of the hands that reach this spot, about 84 combos out of 211. Call is the main action for 19.9% of hands: from 99 down to 66, 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, 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, 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.