Open
To make the first raise in a betting round (preflop).
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What Is Open?
Opening the pot means no one has voluntarily put in chips beyond the blinds before you raise. Opening ranges vary widely by position, with tighter ranges from early position and much wider ranges from the button. The term is also used more generally in phrases like "open range" to describe the set of hands a player raises first-in from a given seat.
Examples
He opened to three big blinds from the hijack with pocket tens.
Her opening range from under the gun is much narrower than her opening range on the button.
Strategy Tips
Use a well-defined opening range for each position to stay disciplined and avoid overplaying weak hands from early seats. Standard opening sizes are typically 2 to 3 big blinds in modern games, adjusted for table dynamics. Consider opponents' tendencies to call or 3-bet when selecting which hands to open. Widen your opening range progressively as you move from early to late position to maximize positional advantage.