Tournament poker is played at stack depths cash players rarely see, with antes in every pot and payouts that make chips worth different amounts at different times. Most MTT hands are played between 15bb and 40bb, so that's where GTO study pays off most. This guide covers how antes and ICM reshape preflop strategy in that range.
What the ante does
Modern tournaments use a big blind ante: the big blind posts an ante for the table, usually equal to one big blind. Before anyone acts there are 2.5bb in the pot (small blind, big blind and the ante) instead of 1.5bb.
That extra dead money changes everything preflop:
- Steals are more valuable. Winning the blinds and ante uncontested is worth far more relative to the risk.
- Opens get smaller. Typical open sizes drop to around 2–2.3bb, risking less to win the same pot.
- Big blind defence gets very wide. Facing a 2bb open, the big blind calls 1bb more into a final pot of 5.5bb, needing only about 18% equity. Many hands that fold in a cash game are clear defends here.
Strategy by stack depth
| Stack | What changes |
|---|---|
| 30–40bb | Raise-call and raise-fold both possible; flats and 3-bets close to cash structure, but wider due to the ante |
| 20–30bb | Re-shoves become central; 3-bet-calling gives way to 3-bet jams |
| 15–20bb | Re-shove range is the main defence vs late-position opens; opening ranges must account for being re-jammed |
| ≤ 15bb | Opens shrink, jam-or-fold dominates for the shortest stacks (see push/fold charts) |
The re-shove zone (roughly 15–25bb) is where tournament players gain the most edge. A wide, correct re-jam range against late opens wins a lot of dead money, and opening ranges that ignore it lose it.
8-max vs 9-max
Fewer players at the table means each open faces fewer opponents who can wake up with a hand. 8-max ranges are slightly wider from every position than 9-max. The difference is modest, but make sure the solutions you study match the table size you play most.
Chip EV vs ICM
Early in a tournament, chips are worth roughly their face value and chip EV solutions are a good model. Near the money and at final tables, they aren't. Under ICM (the Independent Chip Model), losing chips costs more than winning the same chips gains, because busting removes all future payouts.
The practical effects of ICM pressure:
- Calling ranges tighten sharply, especially against big stacks that can bust you.
- Big stacks open and jam wider, because medium stacks can't call them.
- Medium stacks suffer most: they have the most to lose and the least room to apply pressure.
A chip EV chart used at a final table is too loose when calling and too tight when the big stack is pressuring you.
Common MTT preflop leaks
- Defending the big blind like a cash game: far too tight given the ante.
- Using 2.5–3bb opens that risk too much for the pot.
- Not having a re-shove range at 15–25bb.
- Ignoring ICM near the bubble, or over-weighting it early.
How to study MTTs
Learn by stack band and situation rather than by every possible depth. Start with opens and big blind defence at 25bb and 40bb, then re-shove ranges at 15–25bb, then ICM adjustments for the bubble and final table. Drill them in short daily blocks with a GTO poker trainer, and see preflop range mistakes for the habits that leak the most.
Frequently asked questions
How wide should the big blind defend in a tournament with antes?
Very wide. Facing a 2bb open with a big blind ante in the pot, the big blind needs only about 18% equity to call, so many hands that fold in cash games become defends.
When does ICM matter in an MTT?
Mostly near the money and at final tables. Early on, chips are worth roughly face value and chip EV solutions are a good model.
What is the re-shove zone?
Roughly 15–25 big blinds, where re-jamming all-in over late-position opens is the main defence and wins a lot of dead money from the ante and blinds.