TT from UTG, first in — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Raise
open-raise
The math: Pocket tens are a top-tier pair. They open from every seat, under the gun included.
Why
Tens are an overpair on most flops and a strong open from any position. Raise to build the pot and thin the field so fewer overcards come to beat you. This is a hand you want to play, not tiptoe around.
The spot
- Your seat
- UTG
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- T♠ T♦
- Board
- Preflop — no board yet
- Pot
- POT · $3
- Action on you
- You’re first to act
Every option
Foldgive up the hand
Why not: Pocket tens are a premium pair — far too strong to fold, even first to act.
Calllimp in
Why not: Limping tens invites overcards to flop cheaply; raise to take the lead and thin the field.
Raiseopen-raiseCorrect
2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6
The idea behind it
High pairs open from every seat. They’re the backbone of a tight early-position range.
Concept: Big pairs
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.