A7o from BTN, first in — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Raise
open-raise
The math: The Button opens A2o+. Any ace is a steal with only the blinds left.
Why
The weak offsuit ace that folds from early position becomes an open on the Button: only the two blinds remain, so there are far fewer better aces to worry about, and you’ll play every street in position. Steal wide from the best seat.
The spot
- Your seat
- BTN
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- A♦ 7♣
- Board
- Preflop — no board yet
- Pot
- POT · $3
- Action on you
- Folds to you
Every option
Foldgive up the hand
Why not: On the Button A7o is a clear steal — folding an ace with only the blinds behind is too tight.
Calllimp in
Why not: Limping surrenders the initiative; raise to take it down now or play top-pair hands in position.
Raiseopen-raiseCorrect
2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6
The idea behind it
The same weak ace is a fold up front and a steal on the Button. Position, by shrinking the field, is what changes the answer.
Concept: Position widens ranges
Terms in this spot
Play it instead of reading it
The trainer deals this hand with hints, grading and spaced repetition — and randomized variations of it once you have seen it.