Saturday 14 November 2026
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Online MTT news that turns into training
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Strategy

Numbers from our own calculation, one spot at a time. Every analysis ends with a spot you can train.

Three columns: the big blind defends 57.6 percent of hands against a button min-raise at 10 BB, 88.8 percent at 20 BB and 90.1 percent at 50 BB
Strategy · 9 Nov 2026

Big blind defence: how wide is wide enough against a button min-raise?

In our strategy book the big blind defends 58% of hands at 10 BB and almost 9 in 10 at 20 BB. Here is how the mix of calls, raises and all-ins changes with the stack.

JMJozef Mlynek5 min read
Three columns: the button goes all-in with 35.4 percent of hands, the big blind calls with 15.8 percent and the first player at the table opens with 17.6 percent
Strategy · 9 Nov 2026

Caught on the button: it shoves more than a third of its hands, and the big blind answers with barely one in six

At a nine-handed final table with 10 BB each, our ICM library has the button going all-in with 35% of hands while the big blind calls 16%. Who is robbing whom, and what is the fine print?

JMJozef Mlynek7 min read
Three columns: the big blind calls a button all-in with 5.1 percent of hands on a very flat payout ladder, 15.8 percent on a final-table ladder and 20.7 percent on a steep one
Strategy · 9 Nov 2026

The steeper the payouts, the more the big blind calls a shove: five payout ladders at a nine-handed table

In our ICM library, with nine equal 10 BB stacks, the big blind calls a button shove with 5% of hands on a very flat ladder and 21% on a steep one. Here is why, and what it does not tell you.

JMJozef Mlynek7 min read
Three columns: the button continues against a first-seat open with 11.8 percent of hands at 10 BB, 14.3 percent at 20 BB and 15.7 percent at 40 BB
Strategy · 9 Nov 2026

UTG opens about one hand in six at every depth. The button's answer is what moves.

In our strategy book the first player opens 17 to 18% of hands from 10 to 40 BB. The button's continue range grows from 12% to 16% as the stacks get deeper.

JMJozef Mlynek5 min read