One request that came up numerous times in the "What do you want to see?" thread was late position opening ranges. I think since so many of our raises come from late position this would certainly make a worthwhile topic.

First of all, let's define late position. For the purposes of discussion, we’ll talk about the button, cut off, and hijack positions. There’s certainly a difference between the button and hijack positions, but for the most part we’ll group them together.

The first thing to understand about late position raises is that the size of the stacks behind you are nearly as important as your stack. So when evaluating the quality of spots for opening in late position, you need to be highly aware of which players and what stacks are behind you.

First, let’s talk about situations assuming that all stacks behind are equal. I’ll give examples assuming you’re the CO, since it splits the middle of late position. Also, let’s assume there are antes in play, which give more incentive for aggressive LP play. Without antes you can simply drop out the bottom few hands of these ranges.

50 BB’s or more: At these effective stacks you can open a full range of hands. Depending on how aggressive the players are behind you, I’d say you can open the following: 22+, A2s+, A7o+ (you can go lower, depending on villains), 54s+, JTo+, KTo+, QTo+, 75s+ (two gappers), T7s+(three gappers.) If the villains on your left are quite tight, you can go considerably wider than this even, raising off suit connectors and suited two gappers. Depending on how comfortable you are playing post flop with some marginal holdings, you can certainly drop out some of these hands, especially the gapped holdings or weak off suit hands.

~40 BB’s: You can open a pretty similar range however there’s an added factor to be aware of here, good players will flat call a wider range here than at 50 BB’s. For example, if you raise the CO with 50 BB’s (effective) or more and the SB holds AJ/AQ, they may often 3 bet; however with 40 BB’s they will more likely flat call (the good/stack size aware ones anyway) since 3 betting at these stacks creates an awkward pot size in relation to stacks post flop. Example, you raise 2.6X on the CO, SB 3 bets to 9X, BB folds, you call. Now there’s ~20 BB’s in the pot with ~30 behind in stacks. It’s a pot a bit small for open shoving, and a bit big for bet/folding. Many players (especially at low stakes) will still 3 bet that range though, unaware of this multi-street consequence. Outside this factor, the opening range for 40 BB’s should be pretty similar to 50, of course still depending on how aggressive the players on your left are.

~30 BB’s: Here’s where we need to start making some changes. The 30 BB stack is around the area players will start restealing all in (even though you know it’s an overbet, they don’t) as well as go and go’ing you. Against players who are aggressive you should consider tightening your range here, especially since some of the connector/weak suited hands will play a little worse post and players who flat call in the blinds will have an easier time check raising all in on the flop. Although it’s not completely strict, I likely raise things like: 22+, A2s+, A9o+, 67s+, QJo+, KTo+, QTs+. Depending who’s on your left that range can be a bit tight or a bit loose, and you’re certainly paralyzed at 30 BB’s with your range.

14-22 BB’s: At this stack I’m tightening my opening range considerably. Having 23 BB’s+ can be a pretty similar range to 30, but under that you really need to be conscious of the fact that you’ll get re-stolen AI at a much higher frequency than any other stack. It’s additionally bad because when this happens it’s a fairly significant portion of your stack that you lose when you get reraised. Of additional difficulty for the higher end of this stack is that many players will have a very easy check raise all in on the flop, and it’ll often be just enough to price out your weaker holdings. If you raise 2.5X pre on the CO with 20BB effective and the BB calls there’s about ~7 BB’s in the pot, leaving 17.5 BB’s behind. When he checks and you perhaps fire ~4 BB’s and he moves in, you can’t easily call off 100% of your range. This is also the kind of stack size where if you do raise and get called, you should consider checking back more flops with dangerous or draw heavy textures. At this stack, depending on whose on my left, I’m mostly only raising hands I want to get all in with. That means, roughly, 66+, ATo+, A9s+, KQs (debatable.)

13 BB’s and less: At this point most of your late position opens (with antes) will be shoves. In a field of unknowns the only hands you should be raising nominally with are the hands you really want action on, but in tournaments like the 100r you should shove 100% of your range since most players know nobody raise/folds 12 BB’s in late position in that tournament any more.

Now let’s talk about how the players on your left affect your ranges. There will be some players who are so tight and resteal incapable that you should debateably be opening any two cards in LP, depending on your position. This can also apply to players who massively tighten up in bubble situations. However, in some spots you should still consider folding the bottom ~20% of your range, as if you constantly bombard these players with raises they will almost certainly adjust and start spite calling/ 3 betting you. Nobody likes to feel like they are being bullied. With very loose/resteal happy players you of course need to tighten your open raising range but loosen the range with which you call their shoves with.

With players of the very tight/very aggro variety, you’re raise should almost always have a plan going into the action. You should know how tight you’re willing to fold if a nit comes over the top, and how loose you’re going to call when the spewtard does. Don’t raise 55 on the CO with a spewtard in the SB with 16 BB’s then talk yourself out of a call. Running the ranges through pokerstove (you’ll always have to estimate, which is harder with the spewtards) should give you a rough idea of how loose to get with your raise/calls.

I need to emphasize again, it’s mostly effective stacks that matter. If you have 40 BB’s on the CO, and all three players behind you have 13-20 BB’s, you should treat your opening range like you have 13-20 BB’s unless they are all huge nits. Most of the time things won’t line up this easy for you, so you need to watch the players on your left closely to see what they are capable of pre flop with these kinds of stacks and how recently their stack has changed. Players who just lost a major pot down to 15 BB’s are way more likely to resteal than players who waited to shove 7 BB’s and just now doubled up.

The ranges I’ve given aren’t terribly strict, some players will feel comfortable going looser and some tighter, depending on the villains skill and your own skill. Also bear in mind the metagame, if you’ve raised the last two buttons you should probably be tightening up on the third. If you’ve folded the last two, you can raise a looser range obviously. These aren’t hard and fast rules, but I hope they serve well as guide lines.

Alright, that’s all for now, as always if you’ve got questions, just ask, I’ll be awake in ~9 hours.

Authors Note: For those not aware, famous online pokerstar Imper1um was accused of buying an account deep in a Sunday major on Full Tilt. For those needing the appropriate back story, you’d need to glance over two threads, in this order:
http://www.pocketfives.com/97408D8E-DA1E-4A00-A0AE-BE21870E7F86.aspx
http://www.pocketfives.com/BD836AF0-F439-46C6-ACC7-C093FE47F071.aspx
In the Pocketfives justice system all defendants are extremely guilty upon the moment of accusation, either by coming to their own defense immediately, or waiting for the storm to blow over. These are their stories.

*Cue scenes of people in boring suits walking in an intense manner and staring into the camera*

November 28th, 8:43pm, Pocketfives Courtroom

*The courtroom is full of pocket fives professionals, railbirds, wannabe’s and onlookers. Yourtimeisup sits on the left, while Imper1um sits on the right next to his lawyer, Inissint. Judge Adam sits in the center holding a gavel with a head in the shape of a spade, which he begins smashing onto his desk*

Judge Adam: I call to order the case of the People vs. Imper1um, 2007. Mr. Yourtimeisup of the prosecution, representing the people, state your case please.

Yourtimeisup: Yes your honor, *ahem* it has come to our attention that online superstar Imper1um, aka Zangbezan24, aka Sorel Mizzi, had purchased the chip stack late in the Full Tilt Sunday major from a one Christopher Vaughn, writer for Bluff Magazine and douche bag extraordinaire.

Random in Crowd: I KNEW IT!! I KNEW IT! ANYONE WHO EVER SAT IN THE SAME ROOM AS JJPRODIGY IS A CHEAT!
Random #2: HAVE HIM TAR AND FEATHERED!
Random #3: HE SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE FACE!!
BrSavage: BLAAARGH! KILL! SMASH! DESTROY!

Judge Adam: ORDER! ORDER DAMN IT! I will have order in my courtroom or I’ll ban you all. Now then, Mr. Yourtimeisup, please continue.

Yourtimeisup: Your honor, it is my belief that this purchase of the stack is not only a violation of the Full Tilt TOC, but it is also bad for the image of poker and is cheating in general, detrimental to the fairness of the game.

Judge Adam: I see, the accusations are noted. Prosecution, will you call your first witness to the stand?

Yourtimeisup: Your honor, the prosecution calls Mr. Mattg1983 to the stand.

*Mattg1983 walks to the stand, the bailiff approaches and places a copy of Super System under his hand*

Baliff: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and not pull any bullshit bluffs here or anything?
Mattg1983: I do.

Yourtimeisup: Mr. G, would you please describe the incident that took place some months ago to the courtroom?

Mattg1983: Certainly. I was playing a satellite on UB…

Inissint: Objection! The witness was playing on UB, he’s clearly not in his right mind or credible.

Judge Adam: Overruled, the games are still soft and the structures are deep. Please continue witness.

Mattg1983: Right. So I was playing a satellite for a 17k package to Paris on UB. I came onto the final table with the chip lead and everything was going smooth. There was a player on my left who out of nowhere, started playing very well. What was an easy path to victory suddenly turned into a huge battle that resulted in my losing HU. Not 5 minutes later I get an AIM from Imper1um bragging about winning a Paris package. As I recall, his exact words were “BOO YAH! In your face ‘G, you can’t handle what the Imp is dishing. Betchya wanted that Paris package, but not this time bitch! HAHA! Au revoir, American pig!”

Yourtimeisup: That must have been quite traumatizing for you.

Mattg1983: Yes I…I cried for several hours afterward. I was outraged and offended, I couldn’t believe a player of his success and prominence would stoop to account buying.

Yourtimeisup: I see. Thank you. The prosecution rests. Your witness defense.

Inissint: Quite the story Mr.G, quite the story indeed. Do you happen to have the AIM conversation you’ve described saved anywhere?

Mattg1983: No, I’m afraid not. I didn’t think to save it. I talked to Judge Adam after the event about possibly pursuing ramification or outing Imper1um for his actions, but he advised against it.

Inissint: So you’re saying your lack of evidence is Judge Adam’s fault?

Judge Adam: Stop being a presumptuous moron prosecution! I’ll not have slanderous accusations against the court. I advised the witness that outing Imper1um may risk being ostracized from the community and that is all.

Inissint: I see. Well if that is all and the witness has no proper evidence, then the prosecution rests.

Baliff: You may step down Mr. G

Judge Adam: Would the prosecution please call their next witness.

Yourtimeisup: Your honor the prosecution calls TheWacoKidd to the stand.

*TheWacoKidd walks to the stand, a curious incense like smell following him, and the bailiff puts the copy of Super System under his hand*

Baliff: Do you promise to not lie and all that jazz?

TheWacoKidd: I do.

Yourtimeisup: Mr. Waco, can you inform the court of your knowledge in regards to the incident?

TheWacoKidd: Well from the information I’ve received Imper1um was for sure playing for Chris on FTP, and Chris was playing by himself on Stars. I called him when he was on the final table at stars and said “ok who is playing for you?” and he told me he was, so I told him to type something in the chat box about me and he immediately did, so I’m pretty sure it was him playing on Stars. Obviously Stars would have already taken some form of action if this wasn’t the case.

Yourtimeisup: And as far as the incident on Full Tilt is concerned?”

TheWacoKidd: As I said, from the information I’ve received Imper1um was playing for Chris on Tilt. It’s very likely they were on the phone or AIM and he was giving advice, as up until this point Chris has been a pathetic excuse for a poker player and an imbecile in general, never with the ability to play like he was that day.

Yourtimeisup: Thank you, the prosecution rests. Your witness defense.

Inissint: Mr. Waco, do you have any physical evidence of your claims? Any AIM conversations with Mr. Vaughn or Mr. Mizzi?

TheWacoKidd: Well not at this time no.

Inissint: I see. So for all we know, you could simply be making this all up.

TheWacoKidd: Making it up? To what end? How could that possibly benefit me?

Inissint: Oh I don’t know. Perhaps you were jealous of the defendant’s truly amazing poker abilities in comparison to your own?

TheWacoKidd: That’s ridiculous, I’ve won more this year than he has.

Inissint: Or perhaps the way the railbirds on the forum kiss his ass like it was made of chocolate spiked with cocaine?

TheWacoKidd: You’re way out of line, I’m one of the most popular and respected posters there is. I get my ass kissed more than Donald Trump.

Inissint: Or perhaps you imagined the whole thing, the end result of years spent on hallucinogenic drugs?

Yourtimeisup: Objection! This is online poker we’re talking about, nearly everyone is high 100% the time!

Judge Adam: Sustained. Is anyone in this court room NOT high as kite?

*The crowd murmurs and shakes their head, except for those that are asleep*

Judge Adam: As I thought. Now go get me some Doritos bailiff…and some Snickers bars…oh and some pop tarts, those things are the fucking best. Get some for everyone else too.

Inissint: Alright, that’s all for now. The defense rests.

*As TheWacoKidd gets up and exits the stand, Brsavage leaps up from his chair shoving those in his way, sprinting towards the stand which he leaps into with enthusiasm.*

Judge Adam: Mr. Savage, I don’t recall hearing your name called. Please sit back down and only approach the stand if one of the attorneys calls you.

BrSavage: NO! My opinion is way more important than theirs! It demands to be heard of its own accord and on its own time! I will take the stand now!

Judge Adam: Well since the bailiff is off fetching munchies, I have no recourse. I suppose you may speak.

BrSavage: Damn right I will! I got some important shit to say!

Judge Adam: Prosecution, if you please.

Yourtimeisup: Fine, whatever, let’s make this quick so I can get back to making your children homeless. What do you know about the incident Mr. Savage?

BrSavage: I know that all these little punks deserve to be thrown in a barrel of acid that’s for damn sure! I know Imper1um is guilty because he didn’t say shit and has just waited for this issue to go away. Stupid fucking cheaters! I’LL DESTROY THEM ALL!!

Yourtimeisup: You’ve been an enormous help Mr. Savage. The prosecution rests. Defense, go ahead.

Inissint: Mr. Savage do you have any evidence of cheating whatsoever or are you simply here because you forgot to take your medication?

BrSavage: FUCK YOU! We should take all of their fucking money and NEVER give them the benefit of the doubt.

Inissint: *Rolls his eyes* Yes of course. Screw fair process and all that, well said sir. The defense rests.

*BrSavage exits the stand, glaring at Imper1um the entire time while shaking his fist. The bailiff reenters the room and begins to distribute the munchies to the crowd*

Yourtimeisup: Your honor, the prosecution calls its next witness, Andy Mcleod.

*A suspiciously young looking man quietly walks to the stand and takes his seat. He takes the copy of Super System and sets it underneath him in order to provide proper height*

Yourtimeisup: Mr. Mcleod, what can you tell us about your relationship to the defendant?

Andy Mcleod: Yes well one night earlier this year I was playing 5k heauya! *his voice cracks* Ahem, excuse me, excuse me, I have a bit of a cold. Okay, so I was playing 5k heads up matches while very tilted and playing awful. Suddenly out of nowhere, Imper1um, who I thought was my friend and chatted to on MSN sits down and started playing and registering for every single 5k. Since I was tilted I wasn’t going to just quit down and kept going, but in the end Sorel took me for about 50k that night. He sat already knowing it was free money since I was playing so badly. I would never play one of my friends HU unless it happened that way in an MTT, I was pretty disgusted someone I considered to be my friend would take advantage of that situation.

Yourtimeisup: Did you question him about the incident later?

Andy Mcleod: Yes well he explained in that “I’d rather have the money myself and buy some balla ass shit in Paris than watch you give it to the next donk who sat.” Other than that, I’d say Sorel is a pretty nice guy, and we weren’t best mates or anything, but I still felt pretty disgusted with the whole situation.

Yourtimeisup: Thank you. The prosecution rests.

Inissint: Mr. Mcleod, don’t you think it was your own responsibility to control your emotions and tilt while playing?

Andy Mcleod: Well yes, but still, if he considered me a friend he shouldn’t be looking to take advantage of me in that kind of situation.

Inissint: But poker is a game of money, not friendship. Would you really prefer some random to get your money as opposed to someone you consider your friend?

Andy Mcleod: I would if that friend was only playing me knowing I was in an uneven mental state.

Inissint: I guess your friendship must not be worth very much then, eh, mate? The defense rests.

Judge Adam: Prosecution, your list of witnesses is finished is it not?

Yourtimeisup: It is your honor.

Judge Adam: Defense, do you have any witnesses?

Inissint: Only one your honor, a surprise witness……Imper1um himself.

Random in the crowd: HOLY JESUS GOD!
Random #2: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT OF MY LIFE!
Random #3: I JUST LOST IT IN MY PANTS!
*BrSavage’s head explodes*

*Imper1um approaches the stand, wearing nothing but a pair of pajamas and a dirty t-shirt. He throws Super System out from under him on the seat, and winks in the direction of Andy Mcleod*

Inissint: Mr. Imper1um, what are your thoughts on the character witnesses brought in to testify against you?

Imper1um: They are entirely not credible. I never bragged to Mattg1983 after the Paris satellite, in fact I didn’t even win it myself, I merely helped a friend by telling him “you shouldn’t open limp.” That was the only advice I gave him, hardly cheating or having two players to a hand wouldn’t you say? The only message I sent to Mattg1983 said “Hey man you play a really great game and are a truly awesome player. Tough luck on losing out that seat to France, and I wish you the best of luck in the future!”

Mattg1983: Lies! FUCKING LIAR!

Judge Adam: Order! Do not disrupt my court room again or I’ll have you forcibly removed!

Imper1um: And as for Andy Mcleod, well you certainly can’t believe anything he’s said since he’s built a career around a lie, HE’S ONLY 16!

*Andy Mcleod leaps from his seat and glances around nervously*

Some railbird: RUN ANDY! RUN AND CASH YOUR MONEY OUT!

*Andy dashes up from his seat and sprints towards the door, but before he can exit Judge Adam grabs the ban stick at his side and whips it at Andy, striking him in the back of the head, sprawling Andy out on the floor*

Judge Adam: I banish you from Pocket fives Andy Mcleod! You may not return until you are of legal age and don’t put us in a legal quagmire!

*Andy Mcleod lies crumpled on the floor, clawing at his scalp*

Andy Mcleod: NOOOOOOO! MY E-FAAAAAME!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

*The bailiff drags Andy Mcleod from the court room, then throws him onto a yellow school bus outside the court house.*

Inissint: Well I certainly don’t think I can top that, the defense rests.

Yourtimeisup: So Mr. Imper1um, you’ve come onto to the stand and discredited both Mattg1983 and Andy Mcleod, but do you have any actual comment on the reason we’re all here? The night in question?

Imper1um: Yes well um, you see, I’m supposed to give this interview about that in a few days. I mean ya know, whenever it sort of comes together. This weekend maybe or something, I don’t know, it’ll happen.

Yourtimeisup: I see, so you are not directly denying your guilt at this time?

Imper1um: I have no comment at this moment, err yes, that’s right. No comment.

Yourtimeisup: Fine then, the prosecution rests. Christ, why do I waste my time with this shit, I could be making 10k drinking whiskey.

Judge Adam: Well if that is all you may leave the stand Mr. Imper1um. I will now ask the jury to leave into seclusion and decide on a verdict.

And now, we wait. To be continued…