Lesson 28 [Intermediate] Building an Open Raise Range

The foundation of range-based poker begins with systematically building your open raise range.

Basic Strategy

The better your position, the wider your range; the worse your position, the tighter your range.

Basic Assumptions:

• 6-max cash game, 100BB stack
• Opponents are average regular players
• No one has entered the pot from earlier positions

Principles of Basic Range Construction:

UTG (Under the Gun): Tightest range, open only about 15-18% of hands

• Premium: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AKs, AKo
• Strong Hands: 99, 88, AQs, AQo, AJs, KQs
• Some Marginal: ATs, KJs, QJs (optional)

MP (Middle Position): Slightly wider than UTG, open about 20-23% of hands

• Entire UTG range
• Additions: 77, 66, KQo, AJo, KTs, QTs, JTs

CO (Cutoff): Even wider, open about 27-30% of hands

• Entire MP range
• Additions: 55, 44, 33, 22 (small pairs), A9s~A2s (suited Ax), T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s (suited connectors), QJo, KJo

BTN (Button): Widest, open about 45-50% of hands

• Entire CO range
• Additions: K9s, K8s, Q9s, J9s, T8s, 97s, 86s, 75s, 65s, 54s (weak suited), JTo, QTo (offsuit broadways)

Why this construction:

1. Position Advantage: In late position, you always act last after the flop, making even weaker hands more profitable.
2. Fold Equity: Opening from early position leaves many players behind you, increasing the risk of facing a 3-bet.
3. Pot Control: Good position makes it easier to control the pot size, allowing you to play marginal hands efficiently.

Adjusting to Opponent Styles

1. When players in later positions are very tight

Expand your open range by 5-10% from all positions. Since you're less likely to face a 3-bet, marginal hands become more profitable.

2. When there's an aggressive 3-bettor in later positions

Adjust your open range to be slightly tighter, or prepare a 4-bet range for 3-bets. It's advisable to exclude marginal hands that are weak against 3-bets (like A9s, KJo).

3. When blind players call frequently

Increase the proportion of speculative hands (small pairs, suited connectors) and reduce marginal offsuit hands (KJo, QJo). This is because hands with good implied odds are advantageous in multiway pots.

4. When stacks are short (50BB or less)

Exclude small pairs and suited connectors from your range, and increase the proportion of high-card hands (AQo, KQo, AJo). This is because it's difficult to realize implied odds with a short stack.

Thought Process

When deciding whether to open raise, try to think in this order:

1. What's my position? UTG? MP? CO? BTN?
2. Is this hand included in my position's standard open range? Compare with the basic ranges above.
3. What are the tendencies of players in later positions? Tight? Aggressive? Calling station?
4. What's the stack size? 100BB? 50BB? 200BB?
5. Is an adjustment needed? Decide whether to maintain, tighten, or widen the standard range.

Example Hand Analysis

Example 1: A9s from CO

Game: Cash Game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: CO (Cutoff)
Preflop: UTG, MP fold, Hero receives A9s from CO
Pot: $3

Thought Process:

1. "Who has a structural advantage on this board?"
   → CO position is good with only BTN and blinds left to act. A9s is included in the standard CO open range.
2. "What role does my hand play within my range?"
   → A9s is a playable suited Ax. It has the potential to make a top pair or a nut flush.
3. "Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call often?"
   → BTN and the blinds are likely to fold. Opening gives many opportunities to win the pot.

Conclusion: Raise $6 (3x BB)

Comment: A9s is a standard open from CO. If there's an aggressive 3-bettor on the BTN, folding this hand could be considered, but in standard situations, it's a profitable open.

Example 2: KJo from UTG

Game: Cash Game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: UTG (Under the Gun)
Preflop: Hero receives KJo from UTG
Pot: $3

Thought Process:

1. "Who has a structural advantage on this board?"
   → UTG is the worst position. With 5 players left to act behind, the risk of a 3-bet is high.
2. "What role does my hand play within my range?"
   → KJo is a medium-strength broadway hand. It is not included in the standard UTG open range.
3. "Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call often?"
   → An UTG open is perceived as a strong range, so it commands respect, but KJo is a difficult hand to play against a 3-bet or a call.

Conclusion: Fold

Comment: KJo is a medium-strength broadway hand, but it is not included in the standard UTG open range. This is because you would have to fold to a 3-bet, and it's difficult to play out of position even if you get callers.

Example 3: 75s from BTN (Blinds are tight)

Game: Cash Game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: BTN (Button)
Preflop: Everyone folds, Hero receives 75s from BTN
Table Dynamics: SB and BB are playing very tight (VPIP 15% or less)
Pot: $3

Thought Process:

1. "Who has a structural advantage on this board?"
   → BTN is the best position. Since the blinds are tight, the success rate of a steal is high.
2. "What role does my hand play within my range?"
   → 75s is a weak suited connector. It's included in the standard BTN range, but can be expanded even wider when the blinds are tight.
3. "Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call often?"
   → Since the blinds are tight, there's a 70-80% chance they will fold. The EV of winning the pot immediately is high.

Conclusion: Raise $6 (3x BB)

Comment: When the blinds are tight, it's good to expand your range from the BTN. 75s is a playable hand even if called, making it a good open candidate. If the blinds were loose, it would be better to open only with stronger hands.

Example 4: 22 from MP (50BB Stack)

Game: Cash Game 1/2, Stack 100BB (50BB effective stack, opponent has 50BB)
Position: MP (Middle Position)
Preflop: UTG folds, Hero receives 22 from MP
Pot: $3

Thought Process:

1. "Who has a structural advantage on this board?"
   → From MP, 22 is openable with a standard stack. However, the effective stack is short at 50BB.
2. "What role does my hand play within my range?"
   → 22 is a small pair, a hand that aims for set value. Implied odds are crucial.
3. "Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call often?"
   → With a 50BB stack, even if you hit a set on the flop, it's difficult to extract enough chips from your opponent. Implied odds are insufficient.

Conclusion: Fold

Comment: Small pairs are highly profitable with deep stacks (100BB or more). With a short stack, it's difficult to realize implied odds even if you hit a set, so it's better to exclude these hands from your open range. Instead, increasing the proportion of high-card hands like AJo, KQo is more advantageous.

Key Patterns Summary

• Pattern 1: Open UTG 15-18%, MP 20-23%, CO 27-30%, BTN 45-50%
• Pattern 2: Widen your range in good positions, tighten it in bad positions.
• Pattern 3: Expand range if players behind are tight, tighten if aggressive.
• Pattern 4: Increase speculative hands (pairs, suited connectors) when a multiway pot is expected.
• Pattern 5: With short stacks, exclude small pairs and suited connectors, increase high-card hands.
• Pattern 6: A balanced open range with a mix of value and bluff is fundamental.
• Pattern 7: Suited hands have higher priority than offsuit hands (playability).
• Pattern 8: When building a range, think in categories (premium, strong, marginal) rather than memorizing hands.

Quiz

Question 1
Approximately what percentage of hands is a standard open range from the CO position?

A) 15-18%
B) 20-23%
C) 27-30%
D) 45-50%

Question 2
You received KJo from the UTG position. What is the standard play?

A) Fold
B) Limp (call only the big blind)
C) Raise 2.5-3BB
D) Raise 5BB

Question 3
From the BTN position, how should you adjust when the blind players are very tight?

A) Tighten the open range
B) Widen the open range
C) Increase the raise size
D) Limp more often

Question 4
How should you adjust your open range when your stack is short at 50BB?

A) Increase the proportion of small pairs and suited connectors
B) Keep all hand types the same
C) Exclude small pairs and suited connectors and increase the proportion of high cards
D) Open only premium hands

Question 5
You received A9s from the MP position. What is the standard play?

A) Fold (not included in MP range)
B) Limp
C) Raise (adjustable depending on the situation)
D) All-in

Answers and Explanations

Question 1
Answer: C) 27-30%

Explanation: The CO position is a good position with only the BTN and blinds left to act behind. The standard open range is approximately 27-30%, which is wider than UTG (15-18%) or MP (20-23%) and tighter than BTN (45-50%).

Question 2
Answer: A) Fold

Explanation: KJo is a medium-strength broadway hand, but it is not included in the standard UTG open range. This is because UTG has many players left to act behind, increasing the risk of a 3-bet, and it's difficult to play out of position. It can be opened from MP or CO.

Question 3
Answer: B) Widen the open range

Explanation: If the blind players are tight, you are less likely to face a 3-bet or a call, increasing your chances of winning the pot immediately. Therefore, even weaker hands become more profitable, so it's advisable to widen your open range. Increasing the raise size or limping is not recommended.

Question 4
Answer: C) Exclude small pairs and suited connectors and increase the proportion of high cards

Explanation: Small pairs and suited connectors profit by winning large pots (implied odds) when they hit a set or a straight. With a short stack of 50BB, it's difficult to realize implied odds, making these hands less profitable. Instead, it's more advantageous to increase the proportion of high-card hands like AJo, KQo.

Question 5
Answer: C) Raise (adjustable depending on the situation)

Explanation: A9s is a suited Ax hand that is on the borderline of the standard MP open range. It can be opened in tight or standard table situations, but if there's an aggressive player in a later position, folding might be considered. Limping is not recommended in any situation.