Opening Range 6-Max

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MinhANguyen

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How wide do you guys open 6-max? I think I open kind of wide, but it's been pretty profitable for me. I actually used to be super nitty and had a PFR of like 11% haha. That was when I first started out, and wasn't super comfortable in my postflop play. This is all readless on Bovada at 25NL.

But after my postflop game improved, I started opening up a lot more and achieved a better winrate. It does get me into a lot more marginal situations, though. Have to bluff-catch more often, call down lighter, and make thin value bets.

I open 3x everywhere except on the BTN, where I 2.5x my entire range. 2.5x allows me to risk less to steal and opens up my opponent's calling range. And when I widen their calling range, they are more likely to give OTF if they whiff, I think. And they will probably whiff more since they call with more marginal holdings. I also think opening for 2.5x gives me more action on my premiums, as they fold to 3x a little more often than 3x. Additionally, I get a cheaper price to defend IP against 3-bets than if I 3x. I'm wondering if the bottom range of my opening range on the BTN is profitable though.

How wide do you guys open from the SB? I used to open a little wider, but I found that people defend their BB too much, and float a lot IP. So I toned down my SB opening range a bit. Playing in the SB sucks.

Also, when the SB limps in, what raising size do you use, and what % of hands do you raise? My raising range is pretty much about the same as the CO range. I find that when I 4x it, they still don't fold very often. And I don't want to get involved in a huge pot with marginal holdings, so I've just been 3xing it with my entire range. They 99% of the time never fold to a 3x, but I think positional and skill advantage makes up for it.
 

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IPlay

IPlay

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I think your button range should be WAAAYYYYY higher. Especially raising 2.5x you should be stealing with atleast 65% of range.

You are overall kind of tight but theres nothing wrong with that as long as you keep expanding.
 
6

6bet me

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I haven't got an exact opening range that I stick to every time, but in 6-max, I'll generally open something along the lines of this:

UTG: 55+, ATs+, AJo+, KQo, any suited connector above 67s, any suited one-gapper above J9s.
I don't like playing low pockets (22-44) UTG because I just haven't found them to be profitable. The times when I do hit my set, I either won't get paid off at all, or I'll get stacked set-over-set. But I love having suited connectors in my UTG range, just to keep my opponents guessing.

MP: Everything in UTG + 22-44, QJo, KJo, 56s, 67s, T8s, J9s

CO: Everything in MP + KTo, QTo, JTo, 32s, 43s, A2s-A5s, 86s, 97s

BTN: All pocket pairs, all suited connectors and suited one-gappers, any 2 broadways, any Ace, any suited King and maybe a few extra hands like Q9s, Q8s and J8s.

SB: Same as BTN most of the time, but it really depends on whether I think that the BB is going to 3bet me or give up his blinds uncontested. If I think he'll give up his blinds uncontested a large portion of the time, then I'll open ATC, but if I think he's going to fight back and 3bet me a large portion of the time, then I could go as tight as my MP range.
 
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M

MinhANguyen

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How wide do you guys open 6-max? I think I open kind of wide, but it's been pretty profitable for me. I actually used to be super nitty and had a PFR of like 11% haha. That was when I first started out, and wasn't super comfortable in my postflop play. This is all readless on Bovada at 25NL.

But after my postflop game improved, I started opening up a lot more and achieved a better winrate. It does get me into a lot more marginal situations, though. Have to bluff-catch more often, call down lighter, and make thin value bets.

I open 3x everywhere except on the BTN, where I 2.5x my entire range. 2.5x allows me to risk less to steal and opens up my opponent's calling range. And when I widen their calling range, they are more likely to give OTF if they whiff, I think. And they will probably whiff more since they call with more marginal holdings. I also think opening for 2.5x gives me more action on my premiums, as they fold to 3x a little more often than 3x. Additionally, I get a cheaper price to defend IP against 3-bets than if I 3x. I'm wondering if the bottom range of my opening range on the BTN is profitable though.

How wide do you guys open from the SB? I used to open a little wider, but I found that people defend their BB too much, and float a lot IP. So I toned down my SB opening range a bit. Playing in the SB sucks.

Also, when the SB limps in, what raising size do you use, and what % of hands do you raise? My raising range is pretty much about the same as the CO range. I find that when I 4x it, they still don't fold very often. And I don't want to get involved in a huge pot with marginal holdings, so I've just been 3xing it with my entire range. They 99% of the time never fold to a 3x, but I think positional and skill advantage makes up for it.

I think your button range should be WAAAYYYYY higher. Especially raising 2.5x you should be stealing with atleast 65% of range.

You are overall kind of tight but theres nothing wrong with that as long as you keep expanding.

I thought about expanding my BTN opening raise, but the blinds do defend often since they get a cheap price. I'm playing at the micros right now (25NL), and they tend to get sticky PF and with pairs postflop. If I knew that nits were in the blind, I'd probably open ATC. But this is all readless, and for the most part, the general population calls more often than they should and gets sticky postflop. I'll try expanding my BTN opening range and see what happens.
 
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bigdongbrad

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i dont have an exact opening range, mine varies depending on opponent etc
 
quick

quick

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I've been having some success with Zone poker 6 max. I tightened up my range a lot except on the button where I'll raise 3-5x BB with a lot more cards if not raised before me.

By tighter range I mean like PP AA to 88 and cards like any AK, AQ, and AJs, A10s, A9s, KQs, KJs, J10, J9s, but if im BB or button I'll generally raise up any pocket pair and any suited connectors 78 or greater or Ax suited. In full ring and no "zone/rush/zoom" style games I've been playing around with an even tighter range
 
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MinhANguyen

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Quick, that is really really tight. How's it working for you?

Iplay, I've started opening about 4% more OTB in cash games, and it definitely gets me into more marginal spots. How can you even open more than 50%? Bovada players can tend to get sticky blind vs BTN and in general. Zone I've opened up a little, but not too much because in Zone they play back much more than they do in cash games.
 
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IPlay

IPlay

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Zone your button range is probably fine.

Just mix your postflop play up a bit. Check back a lot of marginals on flop and cbet with air, semibluffs and strong hands. Also finding spots to delay cbet on the super obvious no one hit flops like 10 10 3 rainbow. Makes some villains freeze and think you are trapping+lots of turn cards hit your perceived range. When they lead out, just fold. All easier said then done but im sure you get the gist.

Don't avoid opening up so you dont have to play in uncomfortable spots, play those spots and get used to them
 
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LizardDan

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You're playing way too tight for six max. UTG I raise suited connectors(QJs-98s), ATo, A8s+....

Then progressively open it up for a ridiculous button range. If my table is loose I'll tighten up, if my table is tight I'm going to be kind of wild. It's hard to make money via 6 max if you're not putting pressure on your opponents regularly.
 
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