Preflop Ranges: A Practical Guide

Preflop strategy is solved. The ranges exist. Your job is to learn them well enough to execute without thinking.

Opening Ranges

UTG: Top 12-15% (AA-TT, AK-AQ, KQs, some suited aces). Button: Top 45-50% (most pairs, most aces, suited connectors, many suited kings and queens).

3-Bet Ranges

Polarized: Premium hands (AA-QQ, AK) plus some bluffs (suited aces, suited connectors). Linear: Just the strong hands, no bluffs—used against calling stations.

Calling vs 3-Bets

Position matters enormously. In position, you can call wider and outplay post-flop. Out of position, tighten up significantly or 4-bet.

The Gap Concept

You need a stronger hand to call than to open. If you'd open K-Jo from the cutoff, you shouldn't call a raise with it from the same position.