Under the Gun Open Range
Under the Gun Open Range
The set of hands that a player is expected to raise with when first to act (under the gun) in a full-ring poker game.
Overview
The Under the Gun (UTG) open range is a fundamental concept in poker strategy, referring to the hands a player chooses to raise with when seated in the first position to act preflop (usually in a 9-handed or 10-handed game). Because the player acts first and faces the entire table, the UTG range is typically the tightest of all positions. Opening too wide from UTG is a common leak, as it exposes the player to being out of position with a weak range against multiple opponents.
Typical UTG Open Range
A standard UTG opening range in a full-ring cash game (100 big blinds effective stack) often includes:
- Premium pairs: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT
- Strong suited connectors/one-gappers: AQo+, KQo, ATs+, KJs+, QJs, JTs, maybe T9s (if aggressive)
- Some pocket pairs: 99, 88 (sometimes 77 depending on game flow)
This equates to roughly 10-14% of hands. For example, a common 20/16 type player might open UTG with: 66+, ATs+, KJs+, QJs, JTs, T9s, AJo+, KQo. Note that offsuit broadways like JTo, QTo are typically folded, and weak aces like ATo are marginal.
Adjustments by Stack Depth and Game Type
- Deep stacks (150+ bb): The range can widen slightly to include more suited connectors (98s, 87s) and small pairs (22-55) for set-mining, but only if the player is comfortable navigating postflop.
- Short stacks (20-40 bb): The range becomes tighter, focusing on high-card value and pairs (TT+, AQ+), as postflop play is minimized.
- Tournament play: UTG ranges are generally tighter than cash due to ICM pressure and the risk of elimination. Late in tournaments, the range may adjust to the current bubble or final table dynamics.
- Loose/aggressive games: A player may widen the range to include more suited connectors or even hands like A2s-A5s to balance. Conversely, in a tight game, a narrower range is best.
Strategic Considerations
- Positional disadvantage: UTG will act first on every street (flop, turn, river), making it harder to extract value and easier to be bluffed. Therefore, hands that play well postflop (suited hands, pairs) are preferred over dominated hands like KJo or ATo.
- Raising size: Standard opens from UTG are typically 2.5-3 big blinds (or 2.0-2.5 in tournaments). Larger sizes (4x) can be used to discourage calls, especially from the blinds.
- Exploitation: Against weak players who call too wide, the UTG range can be tightened to value-heavy hands. Against players who 3-bet frequently, a player may add hands that can defend against 3-bets (e.g., suited connectors) or even trap with premium hands.
- Balance: At higher levels, players mix in some suited aces and small pocket pairs to ensure opponents cannot easily put them on exactly QQ+ and AK. However, for most low- to mid-stakes games, a straightforward approach is more profitable.