Open Raise Chart by Position (6-Max)

Opening the pot first-in is the most frequent decision in poker and the most standardised one: strong players' opening ranges differ by only a few percent. The chart below shows reference open-raise ranges, close to solver output, for a 6-max table at 100 BB with no antes — a typical cash game.

Pick a position above the grid. Unlike the push charts, there are three colours here: raise, fold and (for the small blind) limp — on the SB, solvers often prefer a mixed strategy.

Benchmarks by position

• UTG (LJ in 6-max) — 16–18%: pairs from 22, aces from A2s, ATo+, KJs+, KQo, QJs, JTs, T9s.
• HJ — 20–22%: K9s, Q9s, J9s, 98s, A9o and KJo join in.
• CO — 26–28%: suited kings from K5s, queens from Q8s, connectors down to 65s, A8o+, KTo+, QTo+.
• BTN — 42–45%: any suited ace or king, queens from Q4s, jacks from J6s, all connectors and most one-gappers, aces from A2o, kings from K8o, QTo, JTo.
• SB (raise-or-fold) — 40–45%. With a limping strategy — about 30% raises plus 15–20% limps.

The logic mirrors push/fold: the fewer players behind, the wider you open. But the reason isn't fold equity — it's postflop position: 76s from the button plays in position against one or two opponents, while the same hand from UTG fights four players and usually out of position.

How the chart changes in tournaments

With antes and 30–50 BB stacks, ranges are noticeably wider: UTG about 20%, CO about 30%, BTN up to 50%. Antes are already in the pot, so every raise-and-take earns more. Sizing shrinks at the same time: 2–2.2 BB is enough to collect the folds, and there's no reason to risk more.

At 20–25 BB you keep opening with a raise, but the range's makeup shifts: fewer small suited connectors, which play poorly against a re-shove, and more paint-card hands and pairs. Below 15 BB — switch to the push/fold chart.

When to deviate

• Tight blinds who rarely 3-bet — widen your late positions; there's no need to tighten anywhere.
• An aggressive 3-bettor behind. Open fewer of the hands that can neither continue against a 3-bet nor withstand pressure: weak suited kings and low connectors go first.
• Lots of callers. If the table calls raises from every seat, speculative hands (small pairs, connectors) go up in value, while weak broadways like KJo go down.
• A short stack in the blinds — at 15 BB and below, open as if you expect a re-shove: stronger and tighter.

Common mistakes

1. Opening 25% from UTG in 6-max — the upper bound is about 18%; past it the hands lose money.
2. Folding 65s or K8s on the button — both are in the range.
3. Limping from UTG or CO — at 100 BB it is never the best option.
4. One sizing for cash and tournaments — with antes, raising to 2.5 BB is too expensive.

The cash trainer tracks which positions you open wider or tighter than the chart and shows the gap in your post-session stats — the biggest deviations usually surface in the HJ and SB.