MTT 6-max

When playing UTG in a 6-max game, you need to adopt a strict hand selection strategy, because you will be the first to act post-flop, putting you in a disadvantageous position.

• 20bb+ : With a stack of 20bb or more, play a range that includes medium and higher pairs (44+), broadways (ATo+, KJo+), and your best suited hands. This strategy allows you to maximize opportunities to hit favorable flops.

• 15bb : With a stack of 15bb, tighten your range and incorporate shoves (all-ins).

Since your open range is strong, against a 3-bet, you can call (or 4-bet) with almost your entire range.

For beginners, don't hesitate to narrow this range even further, as in the UTG position, you'll often face tough post-flop decisions.

Open sizing: between 2 and 3bb.

In the Hijack position in a 6-max game, you can play a slightly wider range than UTG.

• 20bb+ : Compared to the UTG range, you still include 44+, but you also add A9o, KTo, QJo, and a few more suited hands to your range.

• 15bb+ : With a 15 BB stack, it's important to tighten your range and incorporate even more shoves than in the UTG position. This will help you maximize the equity of your hands and maintain a viable stack.

The Hijack position allows you to be more aggressive compared to UTG, but it’s still important to choose hands with good post-flop potential.

For beginners, don’t hesitate to narrow this range even further, particularly by removing hands like K8s, Q9s, J9s, T8s, 98s, which can be difficult to play post-flop.

Open sizing: between 2 and 3bb.

In the Cut-off position in a 6-max game, you have even more flexibility to play a variety of hands.

• 20bb+ : With a stack of 20 BB or more, you can play an even wider range, including all pocket pairs, broadways, A8o+, and a good number of suited hands. The idea is to maximize your potential to win pots and steal the blinds in situations where you will often have post-flop position.

• 15bb : Around 15 BB, your range should tighten again but remains fairly wide. It's important to incorporate a good number of open shoves to maximize your EV and maintain a comfortable stack.

The Cut-off position allows you to take initiative and apply pressure on the blinds, while also exploiting the flexibility of your range.

Open sizing: between 2bb and 3bb.

In the Button (BU) position in a 6-max game, you have the most flexibility to play a wide range due to your advantageous position. Here are the specifics:

• 20bb+ : With a stack of 20 BB or more, you can play a very wide range (up to 50% of hands with 35 BB+). This includes all pocket pairs, broadways, most suited hands with a good kicker, suited connectors, and one-gappers, etc.

• 15bb : With 15 BB, you can still be quite aggressive, with nearly 25% of your hands being open shoves, and most of your opens ready to go all-in in case of a 3-bet from the blinds.

• The hands you choose to open can be adjusted based on abnormal 3-bet rates from the blinds.

The Button position really allows you to maximize control of the pot and apply pressure to your opponents. It is the position that will make you the most money.

Note: Once again, the suggested Button range is tighter than the GTO range; feel free to expand it, especially if you are facing weak opponents. Playing looser than theory is often profitable because your opponents usually do not defend enough, or do not defend correctly.

Open sizing: between 2 and 2.5bb.

In the Small Blind in a 6-max game, your range varies considerably depending on your stack depth and your opponent. It’s a position where you don't have the positional advantage, but it can be very profitable against a player who doesn't defend enough.

• 30bb+ : You can open or call with most of your range using a 3.5 BB sizing. You include your best hands, of course, but you can also polarize your range with some hands that you won’t mind folding in case of a 3-bet.

• 15 & 20bb : Tighten your range even more. At these stack depths, it is crucial to open shove hands that don't play well post-flop but have good equity against your opponent’s range.

• As with the Button, don't hesitate to adjust your open range based on the Big Blind’s 3-bet rate and fold rate.

The Big Blind range against UTG/HJ is mainly composed of calls and 3-bets.

• The BB vs early position situation is complex and prone to mistakes. If you’re not comfortable post-flop, don’t hesitate to tighten your range. You’re more likely to make errors in these situations.

• Many hands are still profitable to call and see a flop, but as mentioned earlier, it’s perfectly reasonable to adjust your calls based on your skill level and your opponents’ frequencies.

• 30bb+: Your best hands can 3-bet non-all-in. It’s also possible to add some 3-bet bluff combos that block part of the opponent’s calling range and can be folded without regret if 4-bet.

• 20bb or less: 3-bets are shoves, and these typically include medium and higher pocket pairs, as well as the best Aces, which have low post-flop playability but maintain good equity when called.

• Against an open of 3x or more, it’s wise to tighten your defense range. The goal is to minimize difficult post-flop situations and maximize the strength of your starting hand.

The Big Blind range against an open from the Cut-off / Button is mainly composed of calls and 3-bets.

• Equity realization: The less your opponents let you realize your equity, meaning the more aggressive they are, the tighter you should play, especially out of position and without initiative.

• 30bb+: Your best hands can 3-bet non-all-in. It's also possible to add some 3-bet bluff combos that block part of the opponent’s calling range and can be folded without regret if 4-bet.

• 20bb et moins: 3-bets are shoves, and these typically include pocket pairs and the best Aces, which have low post-flop playability but retain good equity when called.

• Against an open of 3x or more, or against certain tight profiles, narrow your defense range.

3-bet spots from the Big Blind against CO/BU are very profitable and should be exploited. However, don’t forget to adjust your ranges according to your post-flop skill level: the less comfortable you are, the tighter you’ll want your defense range to be.

In the Big Blind against an open from the Small Blind, you play post-flop in position allowing you to defend a wider range than against open raises from other positions. You also get good odds to defend, as you’ve already paid a blind, justifying a wider defense.

• The following ranges defend a lot, which may not be ideal if the SB doesn’t open often enough, which is frequently the case against most players. Therefore, it might be useful to adjust and tighten your ranges to avoid weak defenses and difficult post-flop situations if you’re not comfortable.

• Using a mix of calls and 3-bets while considering your opponent’s tendencies is often optimal. 3-bets are still rare, and the best candidates are your strongest hands and a few bluffs with blockers on your opponent’s calling range.

• 30bb- : With fewer than 30bb, it becomes appealing to 3-bet shove certain hands like medium and low pairs, as well as Ax, especially with even smaller stacks. These hands don’t play well post-flop but have good equity against the opponent’s range. 3-bet shoving allows you to maximize your fold equity while effectively leveraging the strength of these hands pre-flop. It also simplifies post-flop decisions, where playing from the BB can be difficult with shorter stacks.

In BvB situations where you are in position, it is essential to take advantage of this dynamic by playing a wider range. However, don’t hesitate to adjust your decisions based on the specific tendencies of the opponent and the sizings used.