MTT preflop strategy

SB range vs BB 3-bet at 25 bb (heads-up)

When you open from SB and BB 3-bets you, with an effective stack of 25 bb in a heads-up tournament, the solver plays 39.5% of its hands (call 17.6%, raise 15.60 bb 1.3%, all-in 20.5%) and folds 60.5%. These frequencies come from Exploit It's full preflop tree: a chip-EV equilibrium with antes, computed for every position at the table.

Fold 60.5%Call 17.6%Raise 15.60 bb 1.3%All-in 20.5%

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 39.5% of the hands that reach this spot, about 100 combos out of 253.
  • Call is the main action for 18.6% of hands: from QQ down to J6s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • All-in is the main action for 20.8% of hands: from AA down to A2s, the weakest hand played this way.
  • Surprise: the solver folds some top-50 hands here, such as 55, KTo, A7o, K9o.

What changes at 20 bb (21 hands change action)

  • AA: all-in here, raise at 20 bb
  • QQ: call here, all-in at 20 bb
  • 99: call here, all-in at 20 bb
  • 77: call here, all-in at 20 bb
  • KTs: call here, all-in at 20 bb
  • KJo: call here, all-in at 20 bb

What changes at 30 bb (13 hands change action)

  • AA: all-in here, raise at 30 bb
  • QQ: call here, raise at 30 bb
  • KQs: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • A8s: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • KQo: all-in here, call at 30 bb
  • A7s: all-in here, call at 30 bb

Frequently asked questions

Which hands should you play from SB, facing a 3-bet, at 25 bb in heads-up?

The solver plays 39.5% of the hands that reach this spot, about 100 combos out of 253. Call is the main action for 18.6% of hands: from QQ down to J6s, 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 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 all-in, A3s all-in, A4s all-in, A5s all-in.

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.