progressSB open range at 38 BB
8-max MTT · ante 12.5 % · folded to the Small Blind · chip EV
How SB opens at 38 BB
When the action folds to the Small Blind with 38 big blinds (8-max MTT with ante), the book plays 87% of hands: a raise to 3.5 BB with 32% and all-in with 0.2%, and a limp with 55%. The other 13% fold.
Always raised: AKs, AKo, AQs, AJs, A8s, A7s, A6s, A6o, A5s, A4s, A3s, A2s, KJs, KTo and 13 more.
Mixed hands (the book splits them between actions): AA, AQo, AJo, ATs, A9s, A7o, A5o, A4o, A3o, A2o, KK, KQs, KQo, KJo and 59 more.
At this depth everything opens with a small raise; all-ins appear only later, against 3-bets.
Next to it at 38 BB: BTN 48%. The small blind only has the big blind behind, but it is out of position after the flop, so it mixes raises, limps and all-ins instead of simply opening wider.
Closest decisions (the book opens them only part of the time): 94o 52%, 93o 44%, 74o 42%, 84o 34%, 64o 72%, 92o 22%. These are the hands worth drilling, because a small change in the opponents or the stack flips them.
What changes around 38 BB
The book opens 87% of hands here, 87% at 36 BB and 86% at 40 BB. These leave it: 74o.
Free 7-day ICM course by e-mail
One short lesson a day, each with a worked example in exact numbers: chips vs. money, the bubble factor, who feels the pressure, payout structures, satellites. No account needed.
Numbers come from the progressGTO solution book (v14, chip EV, 8-max, ante 12.5 %): our own equilibrium computation with a modelled postflop. It is an approximation, not an exact solution, and it keeps improving. Hover or tap a hand to see its exact frequencies.
progressGTOAll rangesGuidesDaily spotICM calculatorOpen the appPrivacyTerms