This page is for players who know the rules and want to stop losing. It is ordered by importance: position and opening ranges are half of your win rate, pot odds and betting logic another third, and GTO and exploitation are the final polish. The last section, bankroll management, is the one most people skip and the one that decides whether you last long enough to improve.
Opening ranges by position (six-max, unopened pot)
| Position | Open % | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| UTG | About 15% | 66+, A10s+, AJo+, KQ, KJs, QJs |
| MP / HJ | About 18–20% | + 55, A9s, KJo, K10s, Q10s, J10s, 109s |
| CO | About 25–28% | + all pairs, A2s+, A9o+, K9s, Q9s, J9s, 98s, 87s |
| BTN | About 40–50% | + all aces, K5s+, Q8s+, J8s+, most suited connectors, K9o+, Q10o+ |
| SB (vs BB) | About 35–40% (raise or fold, no limping) | Close to the CO range |
s = suited, o = offsuit. A conservative starting point; adjust to the table. Loosen against tight tables, tighten against frequent 3-bettors.
Open size: 2.2 to 2.5 big blinds online at six-max, plus one big blind for every limper.
3-betting and facing 3-bets
- The 3-bet range has two parts: value (QQ+, AK) and bluffs (A5s, A4s, K9s, 76s, hands with blockers or playability). Roughly 2 : 1.
- 3-bet size: three times the open in position, 3.5 to 4 times out of position.
- Facing a 3-bet: continue with the top 40% of your opening range by calling or 4-betting; fold the rest. UTG open, button 3-bets: call 99+, AQs+, AKo; 4-bet QQ+, AK.
- Do not call 3-bets with medium hands. K-J and A-9 lose money against 3-bets over time.
Continuation bets and post-flop logic
The pre-flop raiser betting the flop is a continuation bet. Principles:
- Dry boards (K-7-2 rainbow): small bets (one-third pot) at high frequency; your range advantage is large.
- Wet boards (9-8-7 two-tone): lower frequency, bigger bets (two-thirds pot), only with strong hands and strong draws.
- Multiway pots: c-bet far less; bet only with real hands.
- Turn and river: on every street ask whether you are betting for value or as a bluff, and which hands the opponent calls with. If you cannot answer, check.
Pot odds and implied odds
Pot odds = call ÷ (pot + bet + your call). Pot $10, opponent bets $5: 5 ÷ 20 = 25%. Call if you hit more than 25% of the time.
Common hit rates (flop to river): flush draw 35%, open-ended straight 32%, gutshot 17%, flush plus open-ender 54%. Shortcut: outs × 4.
Implied odds: what you can still win after hitting. Deep stacks and loose opponents raise implied odds, so you can chase with slightly worse pot odds; short stacks do the opposite.
GTO versus exploitation: when to use which
| GTO (balanced) | Exploitative | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A strategy no opponent can take advantage of, computed by solvers | Adjustments targeting specific opponent errors |
| Best against | Strong, unknown or regular players | Recreational players with clear tendencies |
| Example | Betting the river with a balanced value-to-bluff ratio | Value-only, no bluffs, against a player who never folds |
| At low stakes | A baseline | The main source of profit |
Almost all profit from NL2 to NL25 comes from exploitation: value-bet more against callers, bluff more against folders, tighten up and wait against loose pre-flop players. GTO is the default when you know nothing about the opponent.
GGPoker bans solvers and real-time assistance (RTA) during play. Study GTO away from the table; at the table it is memory and judgement.
Bankroll management: what keeps you in the game
| Format | Recommended bankroll | Example | Move-down rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash NLH | 30–50 buy-ins | NL10: $300–500 | Drop a level below 25 buy-ins |
| Rush & Cash | 50 buy-ins | NL10: $500 | High volume, high variance |
| PLO / Short Deck | 50–100 buy-ins | PLO10: $500–1,000 | Variance two to three times NLH |
| MTT | 100–200 buy-ins | $11 events: $1,100–2,200 | Drop below 75 buy-ins |
| Spin & Gold | 100+ buy-ins | $5 level: $500+ | Extreme multiplier variance |
Rake and rakeback set your real cost: GGPoker rakes 5% at cash tables with stake-based caps, and cashback is scaled by PVI. See rake and rakeback.
Review: finding leaks with PokerCraft
- After each session, filter your five biggest losing hands in PokerCraft.
- Ask three questions per hand: should I have entered the pot, was each street's bet logical, and what does the opponent bet with when I call the river?
- Read the EV graph: the red line (actual) below the green (expected) is luck; above it means you played better than the results. Trust the green line over time.
- Track VPIP and PFR weekly. Healthy six-max values are about VPIP 22–26% and PFR 18–22%.
Unfamiliar terms are in the glossary. Practise on ClubGG without real money.
Frequently asked questions
What is GTO and do beginners need it?
GTO (game theory optimal) is a balanced strategy that cannot be exploited, computed by solvers. Beginners do not need it; learn position, ranges and odds first. GTO matters from about NL25 upward, once opponents have fundamentals.
What should I open under the gun at six-max?
Tight: pocket pairs from 66, suited aces from A10, offsuit aces from AJ, KQ, KJ suited, QJ suited. Roughly the top 15% of hands.
How wide can I open on the button?
Against the two blinds, 40% to 50%: every pocket pair, every ace, most suited connectors and suited kings.
How do I calculate pot odds?
Call amount divided by (pot + bet + your call). Pot $10, opponent bets $5, you call $5: 5 / (10+5+5) = 25%. Call if your chance to hit is above 25%.
How much bankroll do cash games need?
Conservatively 30 to 50 buy-ins. NL10 (a $10 buy-in) needs $300 to $500. Rush & Cash and PLO need 50 or more.
How do I review hands?
Use GGPoker's built-in PokerCraft to see EV and actions for every hand, filter your biggest losses and ask three questions: should I have entered the pot, was each bet size logical, and did I call a river bet I should have folded?
