Changing Up Preflop Raising

If you are UTG and you notice a player is sitting out in a 9 player game, should a player widen his range to his UTG + 1 range. I am thinking a person should play the position as UTG + 1 as you are now only facing 7 opponents. It will also mix up your play and cause confusion with your opponents.

Ex of this, lets say you usually don't raise ATs UTG but would open with it from UTG + 1. When you notice a player sitting out, you should play it even though you are technically UTG.

I got this idea from Mike Caro's starting hand chart
9 Players left
8 Players left
7 Players left etc...

To be clear, I am not saying to just follow a chart. Just refering to usual play.

Wat?

For the record:

I don't open with A10o utg+1 if I'm not in SS shove mode.

If I'm in the HJ and the CO is sitting out.... then I'm technically the CO.

Is this rocket sience ?

IMO it's all relative to the button. If I'm playing 6max and in MP but the guy to my left is sitting out, then I'm effectively in the CO and will act accordingly. Same goes for if I'm UTG but the guy 2 to my left is sitting out, then I'm effectively MP. And finally, if I'm MP but the guy to my right is sitting out, then I'm still MP

This pretty much. UTG and UTG+1 ranges don't change too much. In 6max it's a bigger difference but in FR it shouldn't make a massive difference unless your in HJ or CO.

Let's get really crazy and talk about when you're the CO and the BTN is a nit.




People aren't really noticing the difference between UTG and UTG+1 and I doubt people even play very differently but the HJ becoming the CO, CO becoming the BTN is a legit point.

Cafeman nailed it with the relativity to the button.

i always change up my preflop raises. i have more success with it rather than the standard 3x or 4x bb raises i know why people are consistant with raises to disguise their hands but for me changing it up puts people on edge or pisses them off and they tilt

I found the commentary about this applying to the HJ, CO and BU to be informative. Thanks for the comments. Also good point made about the button being a NIT. Gave me something new to consider.