Preflop range charts
Preflop range charts are one of the fastest ways to improve your poker results. They give you a clear default strategy for which hands to play and…
Preflop
bet sizing
Preflop bet sizing has changed a lot over the years. Before solvers, many players used much larger raise sizes by default. Modern strategy usually uses smaller sizes, because smaller bets can achieve many of the same goals while risking less.
This guide gives you a simple and practical baseline for preflop bet sizing. It is designed for cash games, soft live cash games, and tournaments. It is simplified so you can apply it quickly.
If you want to go deeper later, you can refine sizes by position, rake, and stack depth. But most players will improve just by using consistent, sensible sizes.
It all starts with the blinds and with antes if those are present. Preflop raises exist because there is money in the pot to win. You want to raise big enough to create fold equity and build the pot with strong hands, but not so big that you risk too much for a small reward.
Open raise size is mainly shaped by how opponents respond. If opponents defend correctly, smaller opens often perform well because you risk less while still winning the blinds and antes often enough. If opponents call too much and 3-bet too little, larger opens can perform better because you punish loose calls and reduce multiway pots.
Antes also matter. When there are antes, there is more dead money in the pot, which makes opening more profitable even with smaller sizes. At the same time, better pot odds can encourage wider defense, so you often see strategies adjust with slightly different open and 3-bet sizes.
Use consistent sizes in each spot so you do not give away hand strength. Use sizes that fit your ranges. Bigger size usually means tighter ranges.
Use this table as your default for online cash games and tougher live games at around 100 big blinds.
| Situation | Bet size |
|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
2.5 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
3 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
3x the open raise (min 7 bb) |
|
3-bet out of position |
5x the open raise |
|
Squeeze in position |
4x the open raise |
|
Squeeze out of position |
5x the open raise (min 14 bb) |
|
4-bet in position |
2x the 3-bet size |
|
4-bet out of position |
2.5x the 3-bet size |
|
Versus limper in position |
4 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
|
Versus limper out of position |
5 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
These sizing rules scale well when opponents use different open sizes. You can mostly stick to the same multipliers and get very good results.
For example, if an opponent opens to 3 bb, a 3-bet to 9 bb in position and to 15 bb out of position fits the same logic.
If an opponent opens to 2 bb and another player 3-bets to 7 bb, you can 4-bet to 14 bb in position or 17.5 bb out of position.
These sizes are very close to what you will see in many solver based solutions, while still being easy to remember and apply.
With shorter stacks you usually size down a bit. At around 40 big blinds, a common default is a 2 bb open raise, while the same general multipliers still work well. If you face an opponent with a 40 bb stack who opens larger than 2 bb, cap your re-raise sizes.
The goal is to reach the flop with a reasonable SPR, stack-to-pot ratio. If the preflop pot becomes too large with short stacks, the SPR becomes too small and many hands turn into simple shove or fold situations.
By sizing down, you keep more playability postflop and allow more skill edge after the flop. It also allows you to raise more hands.
| Situation | Bet size |
|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
2 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
2.5 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
3x the open raise (max 7 bb) |
|
3-bet out of position |
4x the open raise (max 8 bb) |
|
Squeeze in position |
4x the open raise (max 8 bb) |
|
Squeeze out of position |
5x the open raise (max 10 bb) |
|
4-bet in position |
2x the 3-bet size (max 12 bb) |
|
4-bet out of position |
2.5x the 3-bet size (max 12 bb) |
|
Versus limper in position |
3 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
|
Versus limper out of position |
4 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
With deeper stacks, solvers often choose larger 3-bets and 4-bets because deep stacks make calling and realizing equity more profitable. Bigger re-raises reduce calling odds, tighten continuing ranges and keep the strategy balanced.
| Situation | Bet size |
|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
2.5 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
3 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
3.5x the open raise |
|
3-bet out of position |
5x the open raise |
|
Squeeze in position |
4x the open raise |
|
Squeeze out of position |
6x the open raise |
|
4-bet in position |
3x the 3-bet size |
|
4-bet out of position |
4x the 3-bet size |
|
Versus limper in position |
4 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
|
Versus limper out of position |
5 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
Many soft live games are different from online cash games. Players limp more, call too wide, and 3-bet less often. Multiway pots are common and stacks are often deeper.
In these games, larger open raises can be a good practical adjustment. A bigger size charges loose calls and reduces how many players see the flop.
Ideally you want to win the pot preflop or play heads-up against one opponent. Multiway flops reduce your skill edge and make hands harder to play.
These larger raise sizes can also be solver friendly once you account for the live environment, especially wider calling ranges and a lower 3-bet frequency.
Use this table as your default for soft live cash games at around 200 big blinds. If 4 bb still gets several callers and you rarely face 3-bets, you can size up until you usually get one caller or no caller. If you do that, tighten your opening range a bit.
| Situation | Bet size |
|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
4 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
5 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
3x the open raise |
|
3-bet out of position |
5x the open raise (max 28 bb) |
|
Squeeze in position |
5x the open raise |
|
Squeeze out of position |
6x the open raise (max 35 bb) |
|
4-bet in position |
2.5x the 3-bet size |
|
4-bet out of position |
3x the 3-bet size |
|
Versus limper in position |
5 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
|
Versus limper out of position |
6 bb + 1 bb per additional limper |
If you are playing closer to 100 big blinds deep, you can often start with 3 bb as your open raise size in soft live games.
Tournament poker is different from cash games. There is no rake, stack sizes change constantly and antes often add dead money to the pot. This changes both ranges and sizing.
Open raise size can be small, since 3-bets are less common due to better pot odds (no rake and ante) incentives calling. SB open raises are larger to avoid giving too good odds to BB.
Use this table as your default for MTT with a 12.5% ante at different stack depths.
| Situation | < 15 bb | 15-25 bb |
|---|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
All-in |
2 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
All-in |
3 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
3-bet out of position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
Squeeze in position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
Squeeze out of position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
4-bet in position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
4-bet out of position |
All-in |
All-in |
|
Vs limper in position |
All-in |
3 bb |
|
Vs limper out of position |
All-in |
4 bb |
| Situation | 25-50 bb | > 50 bb |
|---|---|---|
|
Open raise EP1 – BTN |
2.3 bb |
2.3 bb |
|
Open raise SB |
3.5 bb |
4 bb |
|
3-bet in position |
3x (max 9) |
3.5x (max 12) |
|
3-bet out of position |
4x |
4.5x |
|
Squeeze in position |
3.5x |
3.5x |
|
Squeeze out of position |
4x |
5x |
|
4-bet in position |
All-in |
2.2x |
|
4-bet out of position |
All-in |
2.5x |
|
Vs limper in position |
3 bb + 1 bb |
4 bb + 1 bb |
|
Vs limper out of position |
4 bb + 1 bb |
5 bb + 1 bb |
Preflop bet sizing does not need to be complicated.
Preflop range charts are one of the fastest ways to improve your poker results. They give you a clear default strategy for which hands to play and…
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