I've seen different ways that seats are assigned position in a 9-handed game. One way is (from button to UTG) late, late, middle, middle, middle, early, early. Because of my skill level (low) and the stakes I play (small), the better way seems to be to assign the button and cut off as late, next two seats as middle, next 2 as early, then UTG. Because of my skill level, I think of UTG as it's own position with an opening range of QQ+, AQs+, AKos JT+sc. 8-handed I remove 1 seat from early. 7-handed I remove UTG. At 6-handed I remove the last seat from early position, so that UTG is middle. I use this system for my opening ranges. So for example, 6-handed UTG, I will open with the range I've assigned to middle position.

My opening ranges by position are: Early: TT+, Ats+, AQos+. Middle 77+,A9s+, KTs+, AJos+, KJos+, T9+sc. Late 22+, Axs, K9s+, Q8s+, KTos+Q9os+, 54+sc.

2nd post, 1st one outside of Dumb Questions thread (hoping I wasn't too ambitious lol). Your advice is appreciated.

You can't just grab the button and cutoff and play the same ranges, they're vastly different.

I use PT4's position labels (BTN, CO, MP, EP):

https://www.pokertracker.com/guides/...ing-in-reports

I'm also trying to figure out a starting preflop strategy.

I started with our widest opening range versus an in-position villain so Hero CO vs Villain BTN. I'm using online material and poker tools to create population analysis reports and spreadsheets to be able to develop a complete preflop strategy (2B/3B/4B/5B) for that situation. Next I'll move on to Hero BTN vs Villain BB and then Hero BB vs Villain BTN and so on for all the other positions.

BTN
CO
HJ
MP (maybe add MP+1 but I've rarely seen that)
MP
UTG+1
UTG
BB
SB

To echo Kelvis's point, there is (much) more difference between CO and BTN ranges than there are between UTG and MP1. There's not a linear relationship between position and width of range. UTG and UTG+1 are almost identical, but each subsequent position allows you to add a greater proportion of hands. e.g. you might play 18% in HJ, 24% in CO, but 40% on the button, whereas the first 3 or 4 positions might all be less then 12%.

If you really want to simplify things, I'd build one (tight) range for the first 3 seats, a slightly looser range for the next 2, and then have individual ranges for CO and BTN (and indeed the SB, which uses yet another specific strat).

Thank you for the teaching. Eye opening for sure. I know that opening ranges and really everything thing else can not be static. At the same time I am trying to keep it simple and out of trouble. Kind of like lining up in the Power I Formation and having a 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense combined with a bend don't break defense. The percentages that you list for playable hands, for example 24% in the CO seat; is that the top 24% of hands as listed in various opening hand rankings chart or what you wind up playing based on your determining factors at the time (i. e. action before you, type of players yet to act, etc)?

There's no strict ranking for "most powerful" hands, except for very short stacks, but opening ranges will indeed be the top X% of "most playable" hands. e.g. In the CO, if I open 24%, I might have K8s, 97s, and 65s in my range, but not A8o, K9o, or even 33, all of which are technically "ahead" of those suited hands I mentioned.

You can find opening range charts easily via google. Try to find one from recent years, especially if you can get one that was designed for your particular game format and stake level. e.g. A tournament chart for $50 online tourneys would be quite different to a 100bb cashgame chart for 2NL 6-max zoom, or 1/2 live.