Preflop Opening Ranges (RFI) by Position
Preflop opening ranges tell you which hands to raise first-in from each seat. Here's a full 6-max RFI chart and the logic for tightening early, widening late.
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Preflop opening ranges — also called RFI ranges (raise first in) — are the sets of hands you raise when everyone before you has folded. The core rule is simple: open tight from early position and wide from late position, because the fewer players left to act behind you, the more often a raise wins the blinds uncontested. Below is a full 6-max chart and the reasoning that makes it stick.
Why position changes everything
The same hand is worth more the later you sit. Two reasons:
- Fewer players behind. Open from under the gun and five opponents can wake up with a big hand. Open from the button and only two blinds remain — far less likely to face a re-raise.
- Postflop position. When you raise from late position and get called, you usually act last on every street, a huge informational edge. Acting last lets you control the pot and realize your equity. This is the heart of why position is so important.
So your range widens as you move toward the button, then tightens again in the blinds, where you’ll be out of position after the flop.
A 6-max RFI chart (100bb cash)
Use this as a default. Percentages are the share of all 169 starting-hand combos you open from each seat:
| Position | Open % | What to raise |
|---|---|---|
| UTG (under the gun) | ~16% | 66+, A-J suited+, A-Q offsuit+, K-Q suited, suited broadways |
| MP (middle) | ~19% | 55+, A-10 suited+, A-J offsuit+, K-J suited+, Q-J suited |
| CO (cutoff) | ~27% | 22+, A-2 suited+, A-9 offsuit+, K-10 suited+, suited connectors |
| BTN (button) | ~45% | 22+, any suited ace, A-7 offsuit+, K-9 suited+, most suited connectors, many offsuit broadways |
| SB (small blind) | ~35–40% | Wide, but raise-or-fold; you’ll be out of position postflop |
How to read the chart
A couple of conventions that trip up beginners:
- “66+” means 6-6 and every bigger pair (7-7, 8-8 … A-A).
- “A-J suited+” means A-J, A-Q, A-K — all suited.
- Suited hands play far better than their offsuit twins because they make flushes and have more straight potential. That’s why A-J suited opens from UTG but A-J offsuit waits for middle position.
For the full picture of which two cards are worth playing at all, see our guide to Texas Hold’em starting hands.
A worked example
You’re on the button with K♣ 9♣. The cutoff and everyone before folded.
- K-9 suited is in your button RFI range (K-9s+ is a standard button open).
- Only the small and big blind remain — both will fold most of the time.
- Even when called, your suited, semi-connected hand flops draws and pairs you can play in position.
Now move that exact hand to UTG: K-9 suited is a clear fold. Five players left to act, no positional safety net, and the hand is too weak to want a big multiway pot. Same two cards, opposite decision — that’s the whole lesson of opening ranges.
Common opening-range leaks
- Open-limping. Calling the big blind first-in surrenders initiative and the chance to win the pot uncontested. Raise or fold.
- Same range from every seat. Opening UTG as wide as the button is the single most common preflop leak.
- Over-folding the button. Many players are too tight in late position, missing easy steal spots.
- Loose from the small blind. You’ll be out of position the whole hand — tighten up and lean toward 3-betting or folding rather than flat-calling.
Where to go next
Opening ranges are step one. To see why each seat gets its own range in more depth, read poker ranges by position. To handle the spots where someone opens before you, learn 3-bet ranges. And for how these decisions fit the wider game plan, return to the preflop strategy hub.
Frequently asked
What is an RFI range in poker?
RFI stands for 'raise first in' — the set of hands you open-raise when everyone before you has folded. Each position has its own RFI range, tighter in early seats and wider on the button.
How wide should I open from the button?
On the button you can open around 40–50% of hands in a 6-max game, including all pairs, most suited hands, many offsuit broadways, and suited connectors. Only the small and big blind are left to act, so you steal often.
Should I ever limp instead of raising?
In most cash games, no. Raising first-in (or folding) is standard because it lets you win the blinds uncontested and takes initiative. Open-limping is generally a leak outside of specific multiway or short-stack situations.
Are opening ranges the same for cash and tournaments?
They're similar but not identical. Tournament ranges tighten as stacks get shorter and shift toward all-in shoves at low stack depths. The 6-max cash ranges here are a solid default for 100bb deep play.