BU Pre-flop Ranges

The button is the best and therefore most important position in your game. That's why you play the most hands from the button. The reasoning for this is twofold; firstly you call and 3-bet more against raises in front of you due to your position and secondly you will also attack the blinds with a wide range. However, you need to be prepared to face some opposition in the form of either 3-bets or calls.

In this lesson, you will find the pre-flop ranges for playing from the button in a No-Limit 6-max game. Next to a wide open raising range you will also learn which characteristics and tendencies of the standard opponent played a part in the creation of these ranges.

Open Raising range

Range: 22+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J3s+, T3s+, 94s+, 84s+, 73s+, 63s+, 53s+, 43s, A2o+, K5o+, Q7o+, J7o+, T6o+, 96o+, 86o+, 76o, 65o (#826 / 62%)

Open raising size: 2BB

3-Bet size:  8BB against a 3BB open raise and 7BB against a 2.5BB open raise

Against an open raise from UTG

Full range: 55+, AJs+, KQs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, AQo+, KQo (#136)
	Call: JJ-55, AsAc, KdKh, KdKs, KdKc, QdQh, QdQs, QdQc, AJs+, KQs, JTs-98s, AdKh, AdKs, AdKc, AhKs, AhKc, AsKc (#83)
	3-Bet/Fold: 87s, 76s, 65s, AQo, KQo (#36)
	3-Bet/5-Bet: AdAh, AdAs, AhAs, AdAc, AhAc, KhKs, KhKc, KsKc, QhQs, QhQc, QsQc, AhKd, AsKd, AsKh, AcKd, AcKh, AcKs (#17)

Against an open raise from MP

Defending range: 55+, ATs+, KJs+, QJs, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, AJo+, KJo+ (#180)
	Call: JJ-55, AsAc, KdKh, KdKs, KdKc, AJs+, KQ, QJs, JTs, T9s, 98s, AQo (#102)
	3-Bet/Fold: ATs, KJs, J9s, T8s, 97s, 87s, 76s, AJo, KJo (#52)
	3-Bet/5-Bet: AdAh, AdAs, AhAs, AdAc, AhAc, KhKs, KhKc, KsKc, QQ, AKo (#26)

Against an open raise from the cut off

Defending range: 55+, A9s+, A5s-A2s, K8s+, Q8s+, J8s+, T7s+, 96s+, 86s+, 76s, 65s, 54s, ATo+, KJo+, QJo (#272)
	Call: 99-55, AsAc, KdKh, KdKs, KdKc, AQs-A9s, K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, AJo, KJo+, QJo (#154)
	3-Bet/Fold: A5s-A2s, K8s, Q8s, J8s, T7s, 96s, 86s, 76s, 65s, 54s, ATo (#64)
	3-Bet/5-Bet: QQ-TT, AdAh, AdAs, AhAs, AdAc, AhAc, KhKs, KhKc, KsKc, AKs, AQo+ (#54)

Against a 3-bet from the small blind

Defending range: 77+, ATs+, A5s-A2s, KTs+, QTs+, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, ATo+, KTo+, QJo (#228)
	Call: TT-77, AdAh, AdAs, AhAs, AdAc, AhAc, KhKs, KhKc, KsKc, AQs-ATs, A5s-A2s, KTs+, QTs+, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, AQo-AJo, KQo (#148)
	4-Bet/Fold: ATo, KJo-KTo, QJo (#48)
	4-Bet/Call: QQ-JJ, AsAc, KdKh, KdKs, KdKc, AKs, AKo (#32)

Against a 3-bet from the big blind

Defending range: 77+, ATs+, A5s-A2s, KTs+, QTs+, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, ATo+, KTo+, QJo (#228)
	Call: TT-77, AdAh, AdAs, AhAs, AdAc, AhAc, KhKs, KhKc, KsKc, AQs-ATs, A5s-A2s, KTs+, QTs+, J9s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s, AQo-AJo, KQo (#148)
	4-Bet/Fold: ATo, KJo-KTo, QJo (#48)
	4-Bet/Call: QQ-JJ, AsAc, KdKh, KdKs, KdKc, AKs, AKo (#32)

Why these ranges?

The most likely result of minraising is that you will play against a wide range with initiative or win the blinds straight away. That's why the open raising range of 60.5% is relatively wide.

For playing against an open raise from other positions, the 3-bet range is again relatively wide and the bet sizing of 8BB rather small. Through this you are trying to encourage your opponents to have a capped call 3-bet range. In these cases, your top range will dominate their top range, and you create so-called cooler spots in which your opponents have a strong hand in terms of absolute strength, but are still dominated by your top range. You will also be able to make a lot of continuation bets and make use of the high fold equity.

How standard opponents play against the button

Against a 2BB open raise from the button, the small blind defends with a 9% 3-bet range and a 10% cold call range. The big blind defends with a 7% 3-bet range and a 38% call range. The play from the big blind is mostly focused on realizing equity and he will therefore try to go to showdown with marginal holdings.

Against an 8BB 3-bet from the button, the standard opponent in the positions from UTG to CO calls with a wide range after his open raise. He will often fold to continuation bets and it is also worth noting that his call 3-bet range is capped since he 4-bets all premium hands.