MTT Strategy: General semi basic strategies: GTO frequency hand range recommendations, Kickerology

Replay Poker Poker Strategy
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Well back after I with a semi tight image raised AJ suited, UTG +2 to 220 about 5.5 x bb raise over to early position limpers. Semi tight UTG+4, reraised to about 26 bb’s to 1000. I flat called about 1/4 of stack. K9 off Donk calls. Flop KJx. Checks around. Turn: X semi brick puts wet combo draw possibility. Because Donk that flat called with K9, probably didnt have K9, probably wouldnt flat with K9, and fold K9, and probably Reraise KQ, AK, KJ suited preflop, and probably wouldnt stupidly slowplay top pair of Kings on drawy board, and risk getting beat by straight or flush, and since I need to protect my likely best hand middle pair of Jacks from draws., I bet pot, and slowplay K9 donk stack, reraised all in, 1650 more to call, called, DONK BEAT CRIPPLED BY DONK. then out when I shoved AX suited 6 bb stack, UTG, and button Donk called with K2, and out I went.

Just explaining why back so quick.

General semi basic MTT strategy, advice, GTO hand range frequencies, based on stack sizes, positions, stages of tournament, and Kickerology.

General semi basic advice:

A good MTT player will do 1 of 2 things, depending on how good they are. Either they will play semi tight, semi careful aggressive, early tournament, if they have less of a skill edge, and then gradually loosen up if have mid stack, or if have 15 bb stack, if have big stack. A 30 bb stack will continue to play semi tight.

Or if good player, that knows how to play good postflop, that wont get into too much trouble postflop with bad kickers, marginal, moderate hands, etc, then at beginning marginally, moderately splash around, raise, limp in, call small raises, fold mixed together, depending on position, to try to monster hand mine, put pressure, hit something that can chip up, win pots, delayed cbet semi bluff, block bet good boards, spots, to fold out, get value calls where might or might not win, chip up, etc.

Mid tournament, gradually loosen up a little bit if can.

Late tournament, bubble, if proper rolled(37 extreme minimum buy ins, if extremely good), then use bubble to shove more if marginal, moderate hands in good position, if short stacked. If mid stack, big stack be a semi careful semi bully during bubble, and play to win, not min cash, if proper rolled.

If not proper rolled, then ICM, good pay bumps, ITM(In the Money), (Cashing), can come into play, and can be more important then playing to win, if not rolled properly.

Continue in another post that be a reply post to this thread post.

Next post, Kickerology, GTO preflop hand range playing frequencies, and basic stats like VPIP, see the flop, etc.

1 Like
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looking forward for your next post!

1 Like
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I like your posts but the way you report hands/action is a bit hard for me to follow. Not trying to nitpick, just sharing my experience <3

If you included more line breaks that would really help me, personally! :slight_smile:

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My thoughts:

-over two limps I think 5.5x is a bit small, probably the absolute smallest we can feasibly raise without making a major error. I’d probably use more like 6-7x over two limps. Especially early in the tournament when blinds are quite small relative to average stack, I find players tend to neglect the ratio of bet size to money currently in the pot (i.e., the blinds) and will call quite wide if the absolute raise size is not so intimidating. So I like to size up at this stage when I open/3bet.

-we agree 100% that Villain was punting pre, but I also think you may have been guilty of a little overplay post flop. I disagree somewhat with your assumption that Villain would “probably reraise KQ, KJ suited preflop.” Agreed that AK might 4bet, but Replay is low on 3/4bets, as I said in your other post. Honestly, I expect hardly any of these players are going to see 2 limps, raise from UTG2, 3bet from MP2, and then think “I’m gonna 4bet with KQ/KJs.” They’re overwhelmingly gonna either fold or flat.

-I think I would not be flatting 1/4 of my stack with AJs OOP very often preflop either. That seems like too much to invest in a spot where we can have quite a bit of trouble realizing our equity, and can also easily be dominated by the preflop 4-bettor. I’d fold this at a pretty high frequency and wait for a better spot.

-By the aforementioned reasoning about Replay regs not doing too much light reraising preflop, I also don’t think it’s safe to exclude too much Kx from Villains’ range. It feels a little optimistic to me, like you want your 2nd pair to be good so you’re telling yourself a story about how they can’t have much Kx. This could be totally wrong; I don’t mean to presume. But I do think it’s a bit optimistic already here.

-“X semi brick” seems like a card that really matters. It’s hard for me to evaluate the turn action without actually knowing what card this was and what draws showed up. But I am not sure betting pot here with 2nd pair is a super +EV play. Feels like we’re getting called by better and not necessarily getting too much worse to fold. I’d shove or bet small, like 1/3-1/2 pot, to get value from the draws and protect whatever equity we may have at this point with 2nd pair nut kicker. Full pot on this turn is starting to feel a bit like an overplay.

-I do agree that we can’t bet-fold this spot without a very specific read. If there are as many draws as you indicate, yes, they could easily have one of them in which case folding is of course a disaster.

-In general, it sounds a bit to me like you may be telling yourself your opponents are donkeys (which they may well be) and using this to justify marginal plays. If your edge is so big, why bother putting your whole stack at risk in spots like this? Surely there’s plenty of lower hanging fruit :smiley:

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Also something else that needs to be added to this before proceeding on to next part, is that in MTT’s players generally start off LOOSE, and then get very tight.

A good MTT player is semi tight to between semi tight and semi moderate at the beginning of tournament, and gradually keeps on loosing up, so that while other players are TIGHT late tournament, a good player is loose, exploiting that TIGHTNESS, if the other players let the player do that(which they usually do)

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Next up is VPIP, see the flop.

VPIP is Voluntary put chips into pot preflop, whether by raising, calling, reraising, limping, etc.

A good VPIP in MTT, is about 24,25,26,27,28%
Also dont go by VPIP in very short term, as in very short term might have very good reasons to play A LOT of hands.

Then there is the SEE THE FLOP %. Good players will see the flop about 23, 24,25,26,27% of time

And there is raise percentage, which should be about 17% to 20% to 22% of hands.

There are other stats but these are the easiest to get a feel for about what range of percent at. Wish there was a easy way to track these numbers for oneself as thats how important these things can be to track.

That said, dont refuse to do something thats the right play, because it will impact these stats in a bad way. Example if you have a VPIP of about 75% dont refuse to play a hand you definitely should play.

Next is GTO hand range recommendations, based on stack size stage of tournament, etc

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GTO hand Range Recommendation based on stack size, stage of tournament, position etc.

Early tournament:

75+ bb deep:

Raising(standard raising(usually 3 x bb + 1.5 bb per limp in):

Early Position:

77 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ.

To occassionally mix up, balance range, OCASSIONALLY raise A9 suited, AT suited, KT suited, KJ suited, QJ suited, 44,55,66.

Mid Position:

66 to AA, AT suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ.

To occasionally mix up balance range, ocassionally raise A7 suited, A8 suited, A9 suited, K9 suited, KT suited, QJ suited, QT suited, JT suited, 33,44,55,66.

Late Position:

44 to AA, A7 suited to AK, K9 suited, KT suited, KJ to KQ, Q9 suited, QT to QJ, JT, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 76 suited.

SB, BB:

88 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ

Occasionally raise 55,66,77 to AA, AT suited to AK, KT suited, KJ suited, QJ suited

Calling Range:

2,3,4 bb raise:

Early Position:

55,66 to AA, AT suited, AJ suited, AQ, AK, KJ suited, KQ.

If other player that raising looser, then 44 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ suited, KQ suited, QJ suited.

If other player is raising TIGHTER, then 77 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ.

Mid Position:

44 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ suited, KQ, QJ suited.

If against looser player:

33 to AA, A7 suited, A8 suited, A9 to AK, K9 suited, KT suited, KJ, KQ, QT suited, QJ suited, JT suited, T9 suited.

If against TIGHTER, 55 to AA, AT suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ.

Late Position:

22 to AA, A7 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, Q9 suited to QJ, JT, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 76 suited

If against looser:

22 to AA, A6 suited to AK, K8 suited to KQ, Q8 suited to QJ, J8 suited to JT, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 86 suited, 76 suited, 75 suited, 65 suited.

If against TIGHTER:

33 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QT suited to QJ, JT suited, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 87 suited, 76 suited.

Blinds: 22 to AA, A5 suited to AK, K8 suited to KQ, Q8 suited to QJ, J9 suited to JT, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 86 suited, 76 suited, 75 suited, 65 suited.

Limping.

Occasionally limp, to overcome card deadness, monster hand mine, only if limpers in front, unless limping A8 suited, QJ suited, KJ suited, 44, 55, 66, 77 under the gun(first to act), only if have good pot odds or implied odds, only if play good postflop, only if limp trap slowplaying loose AND over agressive, extremely aggressive players, IF there are loose AND over aggressive, very aggressive players.

That said.

Early Position:

A8 suited, A9 suited, AT, KJ suited, QJ suited, 44,55,66,77,88

Mid Position:

A7 suited, A8 suited, A9 suited, KT suited, KJ suited, QT suited, QJ suited, 33,44,55,66,77

Late Position:

A6 suited, A8 suited A9 suited, K9 suited, KT suited, KJ, Q9 suited, QT suited, QJ, JT, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 86 suited, 76 suited, 75 suited, 65 suited.

35 to 55 bb deep stack

About the same as above.

27 bb stack:

Raise:

Early position:

88 to AA, AJ suited to AQ, KQ.

Mid Position:

77 to AA, AT suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ

Late position:

55, 66, to AA, A9 suited to AK, KT to KQ, QT suited, QJ, JT, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 76 suited

Blinds:

99 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ suited.

Calling Range:

Early Position:

66 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ

Mid Position: 55 to AA, KT suited, KJ suited, KQ, QJ suited.

Late Position: 44 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ, KQ, QT suited, QJ, JT, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited, 76 suited.

Limping:

Early Position:

A9 suited, AT, KJ suited, 44 to 99.

Mid Position:

A8 suited, A9 suited, KT suited, 33 to 77.

Late Position

A6 suited, K9 suited, KT suited, 22,33,44,

17 to 20 to 23 bb stack:

Raise:

Early Position:

99 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ suited.

Mid Position:

88 to AA, AT suited, AJ suited to AK, KQ

Late Position:

77 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ, QT suited, QJ, JT suited, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited, 87 suited

Calling Range:

Early Position:

77 to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ

Mid Position:

66 to AA, KJ suited, KQ, QJ suited.

Late Position:

44 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QT suited, QJ, JT suited, J9 suited, T9 suited, T8 suited, 98 suited, 97 suited.

Limping:

Early Position:

AT, KJ suited, 66,77,88,99,TT

Mid Position:

KJ suited, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99

Late Position:

K9 suited, A6 suited, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88.

7 to 10 to 13 bb(short stacked)

Raise(usually shoving):

Early Position:

TT to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ suited

Mid Position:

99 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ

Late Position:

88 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QT suited, QJ, JT, T9 suited.

Calling Ranges:

Early Position:

KK, AA, AT suited, AJ.

Mid Position:

QQ to AA, AT suited, AJ.

Late Position:

JJ to AA, A9 suited, AT suited.

Limping:

Early Position:

A9 suited, AT suited, KJ suited, KQ, 55,66,77, 88, 99

Mid Position:

A8 suited, A9 suited, KT suited, KJ suited, QJ suited, 44,55, 66, 77, 88

Late Position:

A6 suited, A7 suited, K9 suited, KT suited, QT suited, QJ suited, JT suited, T9 suited, 98 suited.

That just about covers Early stage of Tournament, as far as what hands to play at What Stacks, at what positions.

There are rare, uncommon exceptions. Almost all the other hands not here should be folded preflop, if not one of hands here, and if not in the situation talked about.

Next post is Middle Stage of Tournament Hands to play.

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Next is 6 to 8 to 10 BB raising, calling ranges depending on stack sizes, position, early tournament.

Raising 6 to 8 to 10 bb:

Big Stack(100+ bb deep)

Early Position:

TT,JJ to AA, AJ suited to AK, KQ suited

Mid Stack:

99 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited.

Short Stack:

66 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KQ.

Mid Position:

Big Stack:

88 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ

Mid Stack:

77 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KQ

Short Stack:

55 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KQ, KJ suited.

Late Position:

Big Stack:

44 to AA, A6 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ, KQ, QJ suited, QT suited, JT suited, T9 suited

Mid Stack:

33 to AA, A5 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, Q9 suited to QJ, JT suited, T9 suited, 98 suited.

Short Stack:

22 to AA, A4 suited to AK, K8 suited to KQ, Q8 suited to QJ, JT, T9, 98 suited, 87 suited.

SB, BB:

Big Stack:

55 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ, QJ suited.

Mid Stack:

44 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QT suited, QJ.

Short stacked:

33 to AA, A7 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, Q9 suited to QJ, JT suited, T9 suited.

Calling 6 to 8 to 10 bb raises calling ranges:

Early Position:

Big Stack:.

TT, JJ to AA, AJ suited, AQ, AK, KQ suited.

Mid Stack:

99 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited

Short Stacked:

66 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KQ, KJ suited.

Mid Position:

Big Stack:

66 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ

Mid Stack:

55 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KJ suited KQ

Short Stacked:

44 to AA, A7 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ, KQ.

Late Position:

Big Stack:

33 to AA, A6 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, QJ suited.

Mid Stack:

33 to AA, A7 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QJ suited.

Short Stacked:

22 to AA, A5 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QT suited, QJ.

Raising All in, calling All in:

Raising All in:

Early Position:

Big Stack:

QQ to AA, AQ suited, AK

Mid Stacked:

JJ to AA, AJ suited to AK

Short Stacked:

TT to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited

Mid Position:

Big Stack:

JJ to AA, AJ suited to AK.

Mid Stack:

TT to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited

Short Stack:

77 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KQ, KJ suited.

Late Position:

Big Stack:

77 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited, KJ suited, KQ, QJ suited

Mid Stack:

66 to AA, A7 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QJ suited

Short Stacked:

55 to AA, A6 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, Q9 suited to QJ, JT, T9 suited, 98 suited, 87 suited.

BB, SB:

Big Stacked:

88 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KJ suited, KQ suited.

Mid Stacked:

66 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KT suited to KQ, QJ suited.

Short Stacked:

44 to AA, A6 suited to AK, K9 suited to KQ, QT suited, QJ.

Calling All in ranges:

Early Position:

Big Stack:

QQ to AA, AQ suited, AK

Mid Stacked:

88 to AA, AJ suited to AK

Short Stack:

77 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited

Mid Position:

Big Stack:

99 to AA, AT suited to AK, KQ suited

Mid Stack:

88 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KQ.

Short Stacked:

77 to AA, A8 suited to AK, kQ

Late position:

Big Stack:

77 to AA, A9 suited to AK, KQ

Mid Stack:

66 to AA, A8 suited to AK, KQ, KJ suited

Short Stacked.

33 to AA, A7 suited to AK, KJ, QJ suited.

NOTE the bottom, weaker hands of these hand ranges, even tho can be played, should only do so once in while occasionally depending on situational factors.

Next post will be Mid stage of tournament