How should we change our betting strategy in tournaments when there is no ante?

If in the absence of an ante from all positions you open with the same range as in, you make a mistake that costs you money.

Most players waste chips by failing to change their pre-flop rangewhen trying to win dead money. With an ante, the pre-flop pot is about 40% larger than without an ante. This means that we have to play much wider with antes than we do without them.

This time we will discuss some examples that will show how our opening should change range early, mid and late positions with and without ante.

Do not accept submissions range as irrefutable rules, these are just guidelines to help you build your pre-flop strategy.

Ante vs be ante. Mathematics

If we are playing with a standard-sized ante and open 2.25BB, we need to win the pot at least half the time to make this opening profitable.

To show that we need to open wider when there is an ante, let's look at an example:

9 players at the table. Blinds 250/500/50.

The hero in BU position receives two cards, all before him folds. Hero opens to 1125.

Before the raise, we had 1200 in the pot with Blinds and Ducks (250+500+450), and only 1125 chips at risk when the Hero opens. To make money, our opening has to succeed (all cards discarded) 48,4% times. And we haven't included in this calculation the cases where we win the pot after the flop.

If there were no ante, the pot would contain 750 chips, in which case our opening must be successful 60% times in order to make a profit. This 10.6% is a significant difference which requires us to change our pre-flop strategy.

Let us now turn our attention to the specific range.

Remark:

These range customize low-mid stakes for online games and standard live tournaments. However, they do not take into account the specific different situations you may encounter (a specific player behind you who is in BB position, etc.) The examples are selected for ranges where players have 30BB or more.

Range Example for early positions: UTG+1

Let's start with how our range early positions.

From UTG+1 position we open at about 10% when there is no ante. This is very narrow rangebut very important. This range similar to range in cash games, where antes are very rare.

Red - raise

Blue - fold

When an ante comes into play, we can almost double our opening range up to around 20% hands. We can open all aces of one suit, all pairs, some connectors of one suit and royalties of different suits.

Red - raise

Blue - fold

Pink - raise when the ante is up

Range Example of being in middle positions: the LJ

In LJ positions we open about 16% hands in the absence of an ante.

Red - raise

Blue - fold

When an ante occurs, we can profitably open up to 28% hands. All royal cards and many single suited connectors with spaces (e.g. T7s). Here's a reasonable range Example:

Red - raise

Blue - fold

Pink - raise when the ante is up

Range an example of a late position: the CO

Finally, the opening range of the CO in the absence of an ante (26% hands) is acceptable:

Red - raise

Blue - fold

Now let's take a look at a range example from CO when playing with the ante:

Red - raise

Blue - fold

Pink - raise when the ante is up

Change your range using the information you have

Once again, these rank recommendations are made regardless of the players you are playing against. Here are two questions you need to ask yourself before you open:

1. Which players are behind you?

If there are strong, aggressive, regular players behind you, you need to adapt and narrow your range. Strong players will be the first to realise that you are opening too wide and will often get 3bet from them.

On the other hand, if you have weak and passive players behind you, you can distribute opening rangewithout worrying about getting a 3bet.

2. Which player in BB?

If the opponent in the BB position is weak and passive, spread your opening range and make the most of the fact that it folds more often than it should. Against an inferior but aggressive opponent, narrow your range and consider raising the opening size to make it less favourable pot odds.

Let's summarise

So use different rangewhen playing without and with a duck, as this factor does make a big difference. Also, don't be a nit when the ante comes up, fight back and take the dead money.

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