[Choosing Correct RFI Range] If you are playing 6-handed, how do you decide which RFI range to use? Say, for example, you and three others have 200bb and the remaining two players have 100bb... Do you use a 200bb or the 100bb range?

Although the question above is intentionally simplified, by way of background, I play in a regular 5/10 game that has players with anywhere from 50bbs to 500bbs. Generally, two or three players try to buy close to the big stack as provided by the house rules. My practice has been to select my open sizes to my stack size (say 200bbs) even if there are shorter stacks (50bbs) and larger stacks (500bbs). If I happen to be one of the 500bb players, I will aim for open sizes closer to the average stack.

I realize the situation isn’t always that clear, so any general guidance on how you select your open sizes and ranges based on varying stack sizes would be much appreciated.

if you’re 500bb eff with other players at the table, especially when those players are in position against you, worry about those guys.

At 9-max NL anyone constantly sitting <100bb is irrelevant tbh.

My standard is 3x live, but I’ll go to 4x when I’m deep and tighten up my range accordingly, dropping back down to 3x on the button / from SB.

In a 9 handed game you need 8 opening ranges.
In a 6 handed game 5 of those ranges are relevant.

You could try and derive these ranges yourself using the nemesis principle from GTO, but that's probably not a good use of time. Best to start with someone else's work and apply the nemesis principle to it if you suspect there are weaknesses.

In a live game there is also raise size considerations where you assume that it's possible that multiple villains will call too frequently vs an oversized raise and if this is the case then it's best to oversize your raises. This is the easiest way to win huge pots because pots grow exponentially.

With respect to stack sizes I think you'll find most adjustments occur when playing 3-bet and 4-bet pots or after x/r or flop raises.

You should primarily use the optimal size and ranges vs the fish at the table.


If no fish left and you have mixed stack sizes behind you can't avoid giving an edge to at least one of the them. Your range should be in between, a few offsuit cards vs the shorties and and a few suited low cards vs the deep stacks. Which side you lean to should be based on minimizing their potential EV gain against your "bad" strat. If you are deep with BU, maybe focus more on him than when you are particularly short with BU.

If its lp table thats not 3b. You can 5x-10x pre. You will definitely get calls from fish with way worse hands and regs that will come along cause fish is in the pot. I have gone all in pre with AA open shove 500bbs and I have another 500bb reg behind me but i want him to fold so i can get calls from fish who have 100bbs or lower and get calls from AK QQ JJ TT and the realll bad players all with AJ QK stuff like that. when there is a bunch of bad of players on the table you can just shove ot push out the reg who is on your left trying to get in these pots with the fish when you have a big hand. It really just depends what kind of read you have on the opponents and using the best strategy to maximize profits no whos sitting where.

If only one player is 200 deep and especially if he is in the BB you have definitly have to open your ranges. Same when you defend BB when he is in the pot.
The 3bet renges are also different.
So yeah definitly a good idea to work one this.