The Small Blind is poker's trickiest preflop spot — you are out of position postflop and have already invested 0.5bb. GTO balances a tight open-raise range with selective 3-bets vs late opens, and folds a lot. Discipline here saves bb/100. At 200bb you are deep-stacked — implied odds skyrocket, but so does the cost of dominated hands. GTO actually tightens from early position at 200bb (reverse implied odds hurt), while late position can still open wide. Postflop skill matters most here. Below is the GTO range grid for SB at 200bb (6-max, rake 5% cap $3) — green = raise, amber = call, red = fold. Hover any hand for exact frequencies and EV.
72.8%
Raise (123)
0.0%
Call (0)
27.2%
Fold (46)
Hover or tap a hand to see GTO action, frequencies, and EV.
Pre-computed with TexasSolver · 0.5% exploitability · Rake 5% cap $3 · 6-max
| Action | Hands | Frequency | Avg EV (bb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raise | 123 / 169 | 72.8% | 1.33 bb |
| Call | 0 / 169 | 0.0% | 0.00 bb |
| Fold | 46 / 169 | 27.2% | 0.09 bb |
From the Small Blind, keep your open-raise range tighter than the Button (you are OOP), but 3-bet aggressively vs CO/BTN opens — hands like A5s and K9s make great 3-bet bluffs with blocker value. Fold the bottom 40% without hesitation. Deep-stack strategy: prioritize hands that make nutted postflop hands — suited connectors, suited aces, and big pairs. Avoid dominated offsuit hands from early position; they lose huge pots when outkicked. Postflop edge matters more than preflop frequency.
Pro tip: Compare this chart to your actual VPIP from this position in your tracker. The gap between GTO and your play is your leak — Lab's leak detector quantifies it in bb/100.
GTO open-raise frequency for SB at 200bb depends on rake and field, but our TexasSolver-based chart (0.5% exploitability, 5% rake cap $3) shows the solver-preferred raise/call/fold mix for all 169 hands. Hover the grid above for exact frequencies per hand. Generally, SB is moderate — see the grid for 200bb specifics.
Use the 3-step method: (1) Quiz yourself — cover the grid and ask 'What does GTO do with AJo SB 200bb?' (2) Check and note surprises. (3) Drill the borderline hands (the amber/mixed cells) with Lab's spaced-repetition drills. 10 minutes a day per position beats cramming.
These ranges are solved for 6-max cash, 5% rake cap $3, which matches most micro-to-mid stakes online games. At very low stakes with high rake or vs extremely tight/loose opponents, exploitative adjustments beat pure GTO — but you need to know GTO first to know when to deviate. See our Methodology for solver details.
No. This chart is for post-hand study only. Using any solver chart or AI assistance during live play violates PokerStars and GGPoker Terms ofService and risks account bans and fund seizure. Study off-table, play your A-game on-table.
Free preflop charts and leak fixes — no spam.