What is a typical TAG’s opening range from early, middle, and late position?
It has changed a lot over the years, with ranges growing wider as people look to solvers and strong AI programs to see where the boundaries in very strong versus very strong play are. LAG play can extend well beyond that, taking advantage of leaks in opponents play to extend the boundaries of what can be played profitably. I’ll give 2 lists (and you can find many more, as there are a lot of variables impacting the specific hands you’d want to play from each position), one tighter, and one wider, with numbers to represent position, with 6 being under the gun, 0 the button, and -1 the small blind. I’d generally recommend trying the tighter one first, and gradually adding hands, but a lot boils down to personal preference.
Range 1: many today would feel this is pushing into nitty territory, but those that have played longer might feel it closer to classic TAG
6: TT+, AK, AQs
5: 99+, AQ+, ATs+, KQs
4: 88+, AQ+, A9s+, A4s-A3s, KJs+
3: 77+, AJ+, KQ, A8s+, A5s-A4s, SB (suited broadway)
2: 66+, AT+, KJ+, A4s+, SB, K9s, J9s
1: 55+, A9+, A2s+, BW (broadway), K8s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T8s+, 98s, 65s-54s
0: 22+, A8+, A2s+, K9+, Q9+, J9+, T9, K4s+, Q8s, J8s+, T7s+, 97s+, 86s+, 76s-54s
SB: 22+, A9+, A2s+, BW, K5s+, Q9s+, J8s+, T8s+, 97s+, 86s+, 76s-54s
Range 2: add the following to all hands above
6: 66+, AJs, KQs, QJs, J9s+, T9s-65s, A4s-A3s
5: 22+, SB, A4s+, T9s-54s, KQ
4: 22+, A3s+, SB, K9s, T9s-54s, AJ, KQ
3: 22+, A3s+, K8s+, QTs+, J9s+, T9s-54s
2: 22+, A2s+, KT+, K6s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T8s+, 98s-54s
1: 22+, A2s+, KT+, K4s+, QT+, Q6s+, JT, J8s+, T7s+, 97s+, 86s+, 76s-54s
0: A3+, K8+, K2s+, Q9+, Q2s+, J8+, J4s+, T8+, T5s+, 98, 96s+, 85s+, 75s+, 64s+, 53s+, 43s
SB: A4+, K8+, Q9+, J9+, T8+, 98, K2s+, Q2s+, J5s+, T6s+, 96s+, 85s+, 75s+, 64s+, 54s
Note that all hands above are hands you raise if everyone in front of you has folded. You probably won’t find that happening too often here, LOL… and you’d usually want to tighten ranges at least slightly with limpers in front (and a lot with a raise in front).
I’d recommend Cash Preflop Charts | PokerCoaching.com or any of many other great online tools for a much deeper dive.
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