Are we defending the big blind too wide in MTTs?

[Nesehorn156]

With all the modern charts and solver outputs, it feels like big blind defense ranges have gotten really wide, especially versus late position opens.

But in real low and mid stakes MTTs, where people don’t barrel enough or apply max pressure postflop, I’m starting to wonder if defending that wide is actually printing… or just creating tough spots out of position.

Are you sticking close to solver ranges, or tightening up in softer fields? Curious how people are adjusting in practice.

 

[ninjareal]

Hi Nesehorn156 , I played a few MTT recently on acr , freerolls mind you , and no, I don't think players are defending that wide , perhaps not vs me hahaha
as a side note I think it would be a leak if sharp players spotted this , in a cash game this may work ok, or in the rebuy stages of a MTT , but in MTT
the different stages vs size of stacks will generally be a mistake over defending the BB

 

[fa1920]

Spot on, Nesehorn156. The issue with GTO defense charts is they assume two things: the villain is opening a perfectly wide range, and you will play perfectly postflop. In low/mid-stakes MTTs, neither is true.

People usually open tighter than solvers suggest, so defending a pure GTO range against a tighter range is just a mistake. Plus, playing the absolute bottom of a chart (like K5o or 94s) out of position usually leads to bleeding chips if you aren't navigating turns and rivers like a machine.

Like ninjareal said, stack sizes dictate a lot here too. My standard adjustment in these fields is to simply shave off the bottom 10-15% of the GTO chart. I drop the weakest offsuit broadways and trashy gappers. It avoids tough spots OOP and preserves your stack to exploit bigger leaks in the field