A♦9♣ BTN vs BB, preflop, 80 bb
The spot
- You: BTN
- Opponent: BB
- Your hand: A♦9♣
- Board: preflop, no board yet
- Effective stack: 80 bb
- Pot: 2 bb
Folded to hero preflop in 6‑max.
What is the strongest default preflop action?
See the answer
Best play: Raise / 3-bet
Why
Folded to hero on the BTN, so this is a first-in open against only the two blinds. The button RFI range is the widest at the table (around 45%), and A9o is a trivial value open: it dominates the blinds wide defending A-x, holds the ace blocker, and plays well in position on every street.
Key idea
On the button you open close to half your hands; offsuit aces like A9o are clear opens, not steal-only junk, because you have position on both blinds postflop.
Common mistake
Treating A9o as a fold or as a pure check-fold bluff from the button understates its strength; calling is impossible since action folded to hero.