Poker Preflop Trainer — Test Your Opening Ranges

Pick a format, mode, and seat, get dealt ten hands, and make the call. Practice opening ranges (raise or fold), blind defense vs a raise (3-bet, call, or fold), or facing a 3-bet after you open (4-bet, call, or fold) — in 6-max or 9-max. Every answer is scored against GTO — the gamified way to make preflop ranges stick.

Table Format
Choose a Mode
Choose Your Position

How to Use the Preflop Trainer

This trainer turns preflop range study into a quick game. Instead of staring at a 13x13 chart, you get dealt real hands and have to make the call under a tiny bit of pressure — which is how ranges actually get memorized. Here is the flow:

  1. Pick a table format. Choose 6-Max (six-handed) or 9-Max (full ring). Nine-max ranges are tighter, and it adds the UTG+1 and MP2 seats.
  2. Choose a mode. Open (RFI) drills the "it folds to you" decision — raise or fold. Defend (vs Raise) drills facing a single open-raise — 3-bet, call, or fold (this is big-blind defense). vs 3-Bet drills the spot where you opened and got 3-bet — 4-bet, call, or fold.
  3. Choose your position. Click the seat you want to drill. The available seats change with the mode: opening modes exclude the Big Blind (it never opens), and Defend mode excludes UTG (it acts first, so it never faces an open). Each seat has its own range, so practice them one at a time.
  4. Make the call. Look at the two cards, then click the action. Open: Raise / Fold. Defend: 3-Bet / Call / Fold. vs 3-Bet: 4-Bet / Call / Fold.
  5. Read the feedback. After each answer you see whether you were right, the correct GTO play, a short reason, and how much raw equity your hand has against a typical opening range from that seat. The running score (✅ correct / ❌ wrong) updates live as you go.
  6. Finish and continue. Score all ten and you get a summary. Nail every hand and you earn a "Perfect" round. From there you can drill another position or run the same seat again to lock it in.

Why Practice Preflop Ranges This Way

Preflop is the most frequently repeated decision in poker. You fold most hands, but the ones you choose to play set up every street that follows. Getting your opening ranges right is the single highest-leverage habit a developing player can build, because a leak preflop compounds into much bigger mistakes postflop.

Looking Up a Range vs. Recalling It

There is a big difference between recognizing the right answer when you see a chart and recalling it at the table with a clock ticking. Passive review — reading a range grid top to bottom — creates the illusion of knowledge. Active recall, where you are forced to produce the answer before you see it, is what actually moves information into long-term memory. That is exactly what this trainer does: it hides the chart and asks you to commit to a decision first.

Position Changes Everything

The same two cards can be a clear raise from one seat and an easy fold from another. From UTG in a 6-max game, GTO opens only about 15-19% of hands — premium pairs, strong broadways, and a handful of suited hands. By the Button, that range balloons to roughly 45% because you have fewer players left to act and you will be in position on every postflop street. Drilling seat by seat teaches you to feel that widening instead of memorizing one generic "good hands" list.

Pure vs. Mixed Hands

Some hands are pure raises or pure folds. Others sit at the edge of a range, where a solver raises them only part of the time (a "mixed" strategy). The trainer marks these hands so you learn where the fuzzy borders are. In practice, a simple shortcut works well: if a hand is opened more than half the time, just raise it; if less, just fold it. The trainer scores you on that primary line while flagging that the hand is genuinely borderline.

Equity Grounding

Every piece of feedback includes a quick equity number: how often your exact hand wins against a random hand drawn from that seat's opening range, computed with a live Monte Carlo simulation. This is not the whole story of a preflop decision — position and initiative matter enormously — but it gives you an intuitive anchor for why a hand does or does not belong in the range.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does "RFI" mean?

RFI stands for "Raise First In," the situation where the action folds all the way to you and you are the first player to voluntarily enter the pot. Your RFI range is your widest opening range because no one has shown strength yet and you take the initiative by raising. This trainer focuses entirely on RFI decisions, which are the foundation of preflop play.

Which ranges is the trainer scoring me against?

The trainer uses the same 6-max, 100 big blind GTO opening ranges as our GTO Range Analyzer — composite ranges based on leading solver outputs. When you answer, it checks whether your hand is a raise, fold, or mixed hand from that exact seat and scores your decision on the primary GTO action.

Why did I get marked wrong on a hand I thought was fine?

Usually it is a position effect. A hand like KJo or A9s is a comfortable open from late position but a fold from UTG. The trainer is strict about seat context. Borderline "mixed" hands are scored on their majority action, so a hand that is raised only 30% of the time counts as a fold for scoring purposes, even though a solver would occasionally raise it.

Which scenarios can I practice?

Three, in both 6-max and 9-max. Open (RFI) — it folds to you, raise or fold. Defend (vs Raise) — you face a single open-raise, 3-bet, call, or fold (this is big-blind defense; pick the Big Blind or any seat except UTG). vs 3-Bet — you opened and got 3-bet, 4-bet, call, or fold (pick any opener seat). Switch modes with the buttons at the top.

What is the difference between 6-max and 9-max ranges?

Nine-handed (full-ring) ranges are tighter at every seat because more players are left to act, so the chance someone holds a strong hand is higher. Nine-max also adds the UTG+1 and MP2 seats. Six-max is the most common online format; practice whichever you play. The late seats (CO, BTN) end up fairly similar across formats because what matters most there is proximity to the blinds.

Why does the Big Blind call so many hands on defense?

The Big Blind has already invested one big blind and closes the preflop action, so it gets a discounted price to see a flop. That makes calling correct with a very wide range of suited hands, connectors, and even weak offsuit hands that would never open from an earlier seat. The Small Blind, by contrast, is out of position and tends to play 3-bet-or-fold rather than call.

Is it okay to use this during a real-money game?

No. This is a study tool for use away from the table. Most poker rooms and online sites prohibit real-time assistance during play. Use the trainer to build instinct between sessions so that at the table you already know the answer without looking anything up.

Do my scores get saved?

Scoring is tracked within your current round in your browser only. Nothing is sent to a server and no account is required. Just pick a seat and start drilling.

These reference ranges are the exact GTO data the trainer scores against, laid out for study. Raise/3-bet/4-bet the strongest hands, call the playable middle, fold the rest. Percentages are the approximate share of all 169 starting hands that continue.

Opening Ranges — 6-Max (RFI, 100bb)

UTG (Under the Gun) — ~19%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, KJo, QJo, JTs, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 88, 87s, 77, 66

Mixed: ATs, A9s, A8s, KTs, QTs, Q9s, AJo, JJ, J9s, J8s, JTo, T8s, T7s, 98o, 55, 44, 33, 22

MP (Middle Position) — ~26%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, JTo, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 88, 87s, 77, 76s, 66, 55

Mixed: ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, KTs, K9s, K8s, Q9s, AJo, J9s, J8s, KTo, QTo, T8s, J9o, T9o, 97s, 98o, 86s, 87o, 76o, 44, 33, 22

CO (Cutoff) — ~26%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, 99, 98s, 97s, 88, 87s, 86s, 77, 76s, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22

Mixed: A7s, A6s, K8s, K7s, Q8s, AJo, J8s, ATo, KTo, J9o, T9o, 96s, 65s, 54s, 43s

BTN (Button) — ~51%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, A6s, A5s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, K8s, K7s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, Q8s, AJo, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, J8s, ATo, KTo, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, T7s, T9o, 99, 98s, 97s, 96s, 98o, 88, 87s, 86s, 87o, 77, 76s, 76o, 66, 65o, 55, 54o, 44, 43o, 33, 32o, 22

Mixed: A4s, A3s, A2s, K6s, K5s, Q7s, Q6s, J7s, T6s, A9o, K9o, Q9o, J9o, 95s, J8o, T8o, T7o, 97o, 96o, 86o, 85o, 75o, 54s, 74o, 64o, 43s, 63o, 53o, 52o, 42o

SB (Small Blind) — ~50%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, K8s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, Q8s, AJo, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, J8s, ATo, KTo, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, T7s, T9o, 99, 98s, 97s, 98o, 88, 87s, 86s, 87o, 77, 76s, 76o, 66, 65o, 55, 54o, 44, 43o, 33, 32o, 22

Mixed: A6s, A5s, A4s, A3s, A2s, K7s, K6s, Q7s, Q6s, J7s, T6s, A9o, K9o, Q9o, J9o, J8o, T8o, T7o, 97o, 75s, 96o, 86o, 65s, 85o, 75o, 54s, 74o, 43s, 63o, 53o, 52o, 42o

Blind Defense — 6-Max (Facing a Raise)

BB (Big Blind) — ~25%

3-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, QTs, JJ, JTs, TT, T9s, 99, 88

Call: AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, A6s, A5s, AKo, KTs, K9s, K8s, K7s, KQo, Q9s, Q8s, Q7s, Q6s, QJo, J9s, J8s, J7s, J6s, J5s, JTo, T8s, T7s, T6s, T5s, 98s, 97s, 96s, 95s, 87s, 86s, 85s, 77, 76s, 75s, 66, 65s, 55, 54s, 44, 43s, 33

Mixed: A4s, A3s, A2s, K6s, K5s, Q5s, 22

SB (Small Blind) — ~18%

3-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, QTs, JJ, JTs, TT, T9s, 99, 88

Call: AJs, ATs, A9s, AKo, KTs, K9s, KQo, Q9s, QJo, J9s, J8s, J7s, JTo, T8s, 98s, 87s, 86s, 77, 76s

Mixed: A8s, A7s, T7s, 97s, 66, 65o, 44, 33, 22

Facing a 3-Bet — 6-Max (After You Open)

UTG (Under the Gun) — ~9%

4-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, JJ, TT

Call: AJs, AKo, KQo, QJo, T9s, 99, 88

Mixed: ATs, QTs, JTs

MP (Middle Position) — ~10%

4-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, JJ, JTs, TT

Call: AJs, AKo, KTs, KQo, QTs, QJo, J9s, T9s, 99, 88

Mixed: ATs, A9s, Q9s

CO (Cutoff) — ~12%

4-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, JJ, JTs, TT

Call: AJs, ATs, AKo, KTs, K9s, KQo, QTs, Q9s, QJo, J9s, T9s, 99, 98s, 88, 77

Mixed: A9s, A8s, J8s, T8s

BTN (Button) — ~17%

4-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, JJ, JTs, TT, T9s

Call: AJs, ATs, A9s, AKo, KTs, K9s, KQo, QTs, Q9s, Q8s, QJo, J9s, J8s, J7s, JTo, T8s, 99, 98s, 88, 87s, 77

Mixed: A8s, A7s, K8s, T7s, 97s, J5o, T4o

SB (Small Blind) — ~12%

4-Bet: AA, AKs, AQs, KK, KQs, KJs, QQ, QJs, JJ, JTs, TT

Call: AJs, ATs, AKo, KTs, K9s, KQo, QTs, Q9s, QJo, J9s, J8s, T9s, 99, 98s, 88

Mixed: A9s, T8s, J5o

Opening Ranges — 9-Max (RFI, 100bb)

UTG (Under the Gun) — ~11%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QJo, JJ, JTs, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 88

Mixed: ATs, QTs, T8s, 77

UTG+1 — ~13%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, QJo, JJ, JTs, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 88, 87s

Mixed: ATs, A7s, KTs, AJo, J9s, T8s, 77, 55

MP (Middle Position) — ~25%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, JTo, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 88, 87s, 77, 76s, 66, 55

Mixed: ATs, A9s, A8s, KTs, Q9s, AJo, J9s, J8s, KTo, QTo, T8s, J9o, T9o, 98o, 87o, 76o, 44, 33, 22

MP2 — ~25%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, 99, 98s, 97s, 88, 87s, 86s, 77, 76s, 66, 55, 44

Mixed: A9s, A8s, K9s, K8s, Q8s, AJo, J8s, ATo, KTo, T8s, J9o, T9o, 96s, 65s, 54s, 43s, 33, 22

CO (Cutoff) — ~27%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, 99, 98s, 97s, 88, 87s, 86s, 77, 76s, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22

Mixed: A7s, A6s, A5s, K8s, K7s, Q8s, AJo, J8s, ATo, KTo, T7s, J9o, T9o, 96s, 65s, 54s, 43s

BTN (Button) — ~51%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, A6s, A5s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, K8s, K7s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, Q8s, AJo, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, J8s, ATo, KTo, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, T7s, T9o, 99, 98s, 97s, 96s, 98o, 88, 87s, 86s, 87o, 77, 76s, 76o, 66, 65o, 55, 54o, 44, 43o, 33, 32o, 22

Mixed: A4s, A3s, A2s, K6s, K5s, Q7s, Q6s, J7s, T6s, A9o, K9o, Q9o, J9o, 95s, J8o, T8o, T7o, 97o, 96o, 86o, 85o, 75o, 54s, 74o, 64o, 43s, 63o, 53o, 52o, 42o

SB (Small Blind) — ~50%

Always raise: AA, AKs, AQs, AJs, ATs, A9s, A8s, A7s, AKo, KK, KQs, KJs, KTs, K9s, K8s, AQo, KQo, QQ, QJs, QTs, Q9s, AJo, KJo, QJo, JJ, JTs, J9s, J8s, ATo, KTo, QTo, JTo, TT, T9s, T8s, T7s, T9o, 99, 98s, 97s, 98o, 88, 87s, 86s, 87o, 77, 76s, 76o, 66, 65o, 55, 54o, 44, 43o, 33, 32o, 22

Mixed: A6s, A5s, A4s, A3s, K7s, K6s, Q8s, Q7s, Q6s, J7s, T6s, A9o, K9o, Q9o, J9o, J8o, T8o, T7o, 97o, 75s, 96o, 86o, 65s, 85o, 75o, 54s, 74o, 43s, 63o, 53o, 52o, 42o

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