Three Common Preflop Mistakes and How to Fix Them Using Charts

Learn about three common preflop mistakes in poker and get effective tips on how to fix them using special charts.

Three Common Preflop Mistakes and How to Fix Them Using Charts Introduction: Why Preflop Strategy Is So Important Preflop is the first and one of the most crucial phases of a poker hand. Mistakes at this stage can be costly, especially in tournament poker, where every wrong decision can cost you not just chips, but your chance at a deep run. Jordan "BBZ" Drummond, founder of BBZ Poker, has identified, through analysis of extensive tournament databases using the BBZ Leak Finder tool, the three most common and expensive preflop mistakes—even experienced players make them. In each of these cases, players are passive when the situation calls for aggression, and the optimal strategy depends on stack depth. In this article, we’ll break down each of these mistakes in detail, explain why they happen, and show how you can quickly and effectively fix them using charts. This material will be useful both for players looking to increase their win rate and for those just starting to learn modern tournament strategy. Mistake #1: Passive Play Against Small Blind Limp from the Big Blind One of the most common situations: the small blind (SB) limps, you’re in the big blind (BB), and you have the option to see a flop for free. Most players take this opportunity, but this approach misses out on significant value. When the small blind limps, it usually signals weakness in their range—they chose not to raise, so they likely don’t have a strong hand. Also, the SB limp is often made with a very wide range, since the entry price is minimal. This range can include hands like suited 7-2 or offsuit 8-5. Importantly, after the flop, you’ll always have position, which gives you a significant advantage on all subsequent streets. The optimal strategy is to isolate the SB limp with a raise more often and for a larger size than feels comfortable: isolation raises of 3–3.5 big blinds (BB) are usually effective. Your opponent is out of position, with a limited and weak range, and even if they defend by calling, they’ll still have to play a tough hand on all streets. Which hands are suitable for an isolation raise depends on stack depth. For example, the ranges at 45 BB and 16 BB will differ: with a short stack, you need to consider the possibility that the small blind will limp-shove (go all-in after your raise) and choose hands that play well against that scenario. Any attempts to "guess" the range boundaries without a clear reference to charts will cost you EV in the long run. That’s why it’s recommended to use specific charts for isolating SB limps from the BB at different stack depths. Mistake #2: Not Aggressive Enough with Three-Bets from the Blinds Against Late Position Opens When a player in late position (for example, the button or cutoff) raises and you’re in the small or big blind, many players tend to just call. However, calling too often in this spot is a missed opportunity to attack one of the weakest opening ranges at the table. It’s especially tough to play by calling from the small blind: you’re out of position, and the big blind is still to act and can also enter the pot. Many players miss out on a lot of profitable three-bet spots, preferring to call or fold hands that should be three-bet. As a result, their blind defense becomes too passive and vulnerable. From the big blind, the situation is a bit easier: you close the action and get a great price to call, so calling is often justified. The problem arises when a player only calls and forgets about three-betting. The optimal three-bet range should include not only strong hands you’re happy to get called with, but also blockers (hands that reduce the likelihood of the opener having strong hands), as well as combinations that give you "coverage" on board textures that otherwise rarely hit your range. Stack depth and the opener’s position significantly affect which hands to include in your three-bet range. For this, it’s recommended to keep three-bet charts from the blinds handy. Mistake #3: Opening Too Tight from the Button and Cutoff The button is the most profitable position at the table: you’ll always have position on all subsequent streets, and you only need to get through two opponents to win the pot. The cutoff is the second most profitable; here, you have position on everyone except the button. Maximizing these two positions is key to a consistently positive win rate, but most players open too tightly from them, missing out on profit. There are two reasons for this: first, fear of getting three-bet by the blinds; second, underestimating how wide you can open from these positions. Players who don’t pay enough attention to the details of their opening ranges repeat the same small mistakes hand after hand. As BBZ’s analysis shows, most of the field three-bets from the blinds too rarely, so many players unnecessarily fold potentially profitable opens from the button, fearing a three-bet that actually happens infrequently. The solution is to open wider. Underestimating the cost of opening too tightly is more expensive than it seems, and opening charts for the button and cutoff allow you to quickly and easily fix this leak. Why Playing by Feel Doesn’t Solve the Problem There are concrete solutions for all three leaks described: for example, the button opening range at 30 BB is a clearly defined list of hands; the isolation raise range from the BB versus SB limp at 16 BB is also fixed; the SB three-bet range versus a cutoff open at 50 BB is the same. Trying to fix mistakes "by feel" rarely leads to long-term results: a player notices they’re opening the button too tightly, widens their range for a week or two, then out of habit goes back to old mistakes. The situation is made worse by using charts designed for other formats. In cash games, stacks are usually 100 BB, there’s no ante, and the rake structure is different, while in tournaments, stacks can change from 12 to 80 BB or more in a single event. Ante, ICM (Independent Chip Model), and the absence of rake make the formats fundamentally different. Using cash game ranges in a tournament can do even more harm than playing "by feel." Why Tournament Players Tend to Be Overly Cautious In tournaments, busting out means the end of your playing day, so wanting to avoid confrontations and play more cautiously seems justified—unlike in cash games, where you can rebuy. Pay jumps and ICM really do sometimes force you to avoid situations where you could lose your whole stack, since chips won are worth less than chips lost, and on the bubble there’s an incentive not to take risks. However, with most stack sizes, isolating an SB limp or opening from the button doesn’t put your stack at risk: these are small risks for the chance to take down the blinds and antes already in the pot. Excessive caution, especially early in a tournament, leads to missed profit—you’re protecting "nothing" and giving up real opportunities. BBZ charts cover ranges for stacks from 3 to 100 BB for all eight table positions: for opens, responses to raises, and situations against three-bets—over 900 scenarios in total. For each of the three spots described above, there are clear charts for any stack depth you’ll encounter in a tournament. BBZ Chart Pricing and Features BBZ MTT charts cost $12.50 per month with annual payment or $15 with a monthly subscription. The package including charts for MTT, cash, ICM, PKO, and Spin and Go is $20.80 per month with annual payment or $25 with a monthly subscription. There’s a free seven-day trial period during which you can study the exact ranges for all three leaks described above at no cost. BBZ charts cover ranges for stacks from 3 to 100 BB for all positions and formats (MTT, cash, ICM, PKO, Spin and Go). The leak data in this article is based on analysis from BBZ Leak Finder, which evaluates 175 tournament stats by position. Table: Main Leaks and How to Fix Them Situation Typical Mistake Recommendation Tool SB limps, you’re on BB Frequent check, passive play Isolate limps more often and for a bigger size (3–3.5 BB) BB isolation charts LP opens, you’re on SB/BB Frequent call, rare three-bets Three-bet more often, choose hands with blockers and board coverage Blinds three-bet charts Opens from button/cutoff Ranges too tight Open wider, don’t fear rare three-bets LP opening charts What This Means for PPPoker Club Players PPPoker club players often face the same preflop leaks as participants in major online tournaments. If you notice that you regularly check against SB limps, rarely three-bet from the blinds, or open the button/cutoff too narrowly—you’re losing EV in every session. Using charts tailored to tournament stacks and dynamics will quickly fix these mistakes and boost your average results in club games. Practical takeaway: make it a habit to check up-to-date charts for your format and stack depth. Even if you don’t have access to paid BBZ products, you can find free ones or create your own charts based on hand analysis. In PPPoker clubs, where dynamics and blind levels often change, flexibility and accuracy in preflop decisions are especially important. Finally, remember: most players in PPPoker clubs make the same mistakes—passive blind defense, excessive caution on the button and cutoff, and not knowing how to isolate limps. If you start playing more aggressively and according to clear ranges, you’ll quickly notice your win rate rising and your opponents ending up in uncomfortable spots. Use these advantages to become stronger in club games and achieve better results on PPPoker.