Mastering UTG Range in 6-Max Texas Hold’em ♠️
In 6-max Texas Hold’em, the Under the Gun (UTG) position is the first player to act preflop. Since there are fewer players at the table, UTG ranges are slightly wider than full-ring games, but discipline is still crucial. Playing a strong, well-defined range ensures that your early-position decisions are profitable and less exploitable.
What is a 6-Max UTG Range?
A range is the set of hands you open from a specific position. In 6-max games, with only five other opponents, you can open a bit wider than in full-ring, but UTG still requires strong hands, as acting first leaves you vulnerable to aggression.
A typical 6-max UTG range includes roughly 15–20% of hands, slightly looser than the 10–15% in full-ring.
Typical UTG Hands in 6-Max
Here’s an example of a solid UTG range for 6-max:
- Premium Pairs: AA, KK, QQ, JJ
- Medium Pairs: TT, 99, 88
- Strong Broadways: AK suited and offsuit, AQ suited and offsuit, AJ suited
- Suited Connectors (occasionally): KQ suited, QJ suited, JT suited
This range balances value hands with playable speculative hands, giving you good postflop options.
UTG 6-Max Range Chart
| Hand Type | Hands to Open UTG |
|---|---|
| Pocket Aces | AA |
| Pocket Kings | KK |
| Pocket Queens | |
| Pocket Jacks | JJ |
| Pocket Tens | TT |
| Pocket Nines | 99 |
| Pocket Eights | 88 |
| Ace-King Suited | AKs |
| Ace-King Offsuit | AKo |
| Ace-Queen Suited | AQs |
| Ace-Queen Offsuit | AQo |
| Ace-Jack Suited | AJs |
| King-Queen Suited | KQs |
| Queen-Jack Suited | QJs |
| Jack-Ten Suited | JTs |
💡 Tip: Highlight premium hands (AA, KK, QQ, AKs) in green, strong secondary hands in yellow, and occasional suited connectors in blue.
Why the UTG Range is Slightly Wider in 6-Max
- Fewer opponents: Less chance of being dominated, so you can add playable hands.
- More aggressive dynamics: 6-max games often require stealing pots from early positions.
- Postflop flexibility: Strong speculative hands like KQ suited or JT suited can realize equity well in 6-max.
Despite being wider than full-ring, the UTG range still emphasizes premium and strong hands first, ensuring long-term profitability.
Adjusting Your UTG Range
Even in 6-max, adjustments are necessary:
- Aggressive tables: Tighten your range to avoid getting 3-bet frequently.
- Passive tables: Slightly widen your range to exploit weak opponents.
- Stack size considerations: Deep stacks allow more speculative hands; short stacks favor premium hands only.
Key Takeaways for 6-Max UTG
- Discipline matters: UTG is still the first to act; weak hands can be costly.
- Memorize your range: Use a chart to internalize which hands to open.
- Dynamic adjustments: Adapt to table aggression, stack sizes, and tendencies.
- Plan postflop: UTG hands often play well postflop, giving control and extraction opportunities.
By mastering a solid 6-max UTG range, you make your preflop decisions more consistent and profitable. This foundation allows you to play confidently, reduce mistakes, and exploit opponents effectively. ♠️
Graph Concept for UTG 6-Max Range
- Use a 6×13 hand matrix (pairs, suited, offsuit).
- Premium hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs) in green.
- Strong secondary hands (TT, 99, AK, AQ, AJs, KQs) in yellow.
- Speculative suited connectors (QJs, JTs) in blue.
- Grey out all hands outside the range.
This chart visually reinforces the optimal UTG 6-max opening strategy.