Do open ranges change if we are shorthanded? - Micro Stakes Pot Limit and No Limit

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Do open ranges change if we are shorthanded?

View Poll Results: wider or the same

wider

9 81.82%

same

2 18.18%

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05-22-2024 , 09:17 AM

MrRad

stranger

Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 10

for example should we open CO wider 4 handed vs 6-max? Ive always treated this question as a no, but what do you think? i kind of feel we should open wider short handed because we are paying the blinds more often?

Last edited by MrRad; 05-22-2024 at 09:40 AM.

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05-22-2024 , 09:22 AM

boulgakov

veteran

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,701

I think in theory you open wider because when in 6-max when people before you mucked they supposedly threw away low cards, which leaves more high cards in players hands behind you (google bunching effect).

In practice... I would not care and stick to the range I know. But I almost always play 6-max anyway.

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05-22-2024 , 09:46 AM

redwhirl

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 415

4max to 6 max bunching effect probably insignificant. 9 max to 3/4 max then you’ll want to adjust.

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05-22-2024 , 10:17 AM

TripleBerryJam

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2023 Posts: 554

If our opponents are just playing 6-max ranges won't they end up folding less and 3-betting more? EV of stealing trashy hands goes down so we open tighter right?

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05-22-2024 , 10:35 AM

stremba70

adept

Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 1,173

Your open ranges should not change as you reduce number of players, but you will open a greater percentage of hands when short. That is because there are no early positions when short. When 9 handed your early position ranges are very tight (UTG, UTG+1, etc). If you’re playing 4 handed these positions effectively don’t exist. First to act 4 handed should be using CO range, not UTG. Because you will always be using looser ranges 4 handed than you would 9 handed, you will naturally open more often even though you haven’t widened any of your opening ranges

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05-22-2024 , 10:59 AM

newguyhere

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 7,435

Who is the in the blinds should be the biggest determining factor on how much wider you can open.

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05-22-2024 , 11:24 AM

Brokenstars

Verified Coach NLHE

Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 16,133

Quote:

Originally Posted by boulgakov

Yep

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05-22-2024 , 11:58 AM

aner0

Verified Coach NLHE

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 3,712

Slightly wider, not super significant

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