22 from BTN, first in — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Raise
open-raise
The math: The Button opens 22+. Even the smallest pair is a raise here.
Why
On the Button you’re last to act all hand and only the blinds remain, so even pocket deuces open: you steal often, and when called you play a set-mine in position. The worst pair from early position is a standard Button open.
The spot
- Your seat
- BTN
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- 2♣ 2♦
- 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 any pair is an open — folding deuces wastes the best seat at the table.
Calllimp to set-mine
Why not: Limping gives the blinds a cheap flop; raise to steal outright or play a set-mine in position.
Raiseopen-raiseCorrect
2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6
The idea behind it
The Button’s edge is so large it opens the entire pair chart. Position converts hands that are unplayable up front into profitable steals.
Concept: Button steals
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.