First in (RFI) · full-ring table, 8–9 players · 40 big blinds or more
With antes — the standard in today's tournaments and what the Pokwise app shows for this spot. Without antes: 9%.
With a deep stack, UTG is first to act at a full 9-handed table — with seven players still to act behind you, the range has to be the tightest at the table. As a result, UTG opens 11% of hands — a tight range built on pairs, strong aces and broadways: with lots of players still to act, a mediocre hand turns into an expensive problem.
Sizing matters as much as the cards: the standard raise here is 2.5 BB. Just calling the blind (limping) with 40 BB+ is the most common way to turn a good hand into a messy pot.
What about a short stack? From around 10 BB the math changes completely: small opens disappear and the decision becomes shove or fold — check the UTG push/fold chart.
Everyone plays the obvious hands the same way — the edge of a player who studies shows up exactly in this grey zone.
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