PREFLOP CHART · ~22% of hands
HJ opening range — 9-max cash 100bb
The hijack (HJ) is two seats off the button in 9-max — first to act after the early positions fold. Opening about 22% at 100bb, HJ has to balance two pressures: you're still opening into four players left to act (CO, BTN, SB, BB), but you've shed the very tight UTG/UTG+1/MP constraints that force narrow ranges. Your range here looks similar to a 6-max LJ open — tight broadway hands, all pocket pairs, suited aces, and the better suited connectors.
Range — the hands you play
- All pocket pairs (22 – AA)
- All suited aces (A2s – AKs)
- Suited kings: KTs – AKs (K9s mixed)
- Suited queens: QTs, QJs
- Suited connectors: 87s, 76s, 65s (mixed), T9s, 98s
- Broadway offsuit: AKo, AQo, AJo, KQo, KJo (mixed), QJo (mixed)
Key insights
- Avoid opening weak offsuit Kx or Qx — they perform poorly when called by the wider BTN/blinds range.
- Suited two-gappers (T7s, 96s) are mostly folds here despite looking playable.
Frequently asked
Is HJ in 9-max the same as LJ in 6-max?
Functionally yes — both have four players left to act and both open similar ranges (~20-22%). The biggest difference is that LJ in 6-max occasionally widens slightly because the 6-max blinds defend slightly tighter than 9-max blinds at equilibrium.
Should HJ 4-bet wider than later positions vs a 3-bet?
Yes — slightly. The HJ opening range is tight (~22%), so the proportional value-portion of the range is higher than for BTN's 48% opening range. That means a higher fraction of HJ's range can profitably 4-bet for value when facing a 3-bet (~18-20% 4-bet frequency vs ~12% for BTN). The bluff portion stays similar (a slice of suited wheel aces like A5s, A4s).
What's the biggest mistake players make from HJ?
Opening too wide because 'I'm not UTG anymore.' Players coming from UTG/UTG+1 over-correct and start opening 30%+ at HJ, which puts them in trouble against the CO/BTN/blinds 3-betting an appropriately wider range vs their loose opens. The equilibrium ~22% is the right baseline; tighten further only vs aggressive 3-bettors behind.