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Starting Hand

How to Play 97s — Nine-Seven suited Preflop Strategy

GTO opens 97s first-in from 3 of the 5 positions in 6-max cash — from the CO onward. Earlier than that, it folds. In numbers: the button opens it 100% of the time and the lojack 0%; at 15bb it is a first-in shove from 2 of 7 seats.

6-Max Cash Opening (100bb)

How often GTO opens 97s first-in from each seat.

LJ
0%
HJ
11%
CO
100%
Button
100%
Small Blind
100%

Short-Stack Jam Frequency

How often 97s is a first-in shove at short stacks (tournament).

Stack UTG MP LJ HJ CO BTN SB
5bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 2% 100% 100%
8bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 98%
10bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100%
12bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100%
15bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100%
20bb 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 95% 100%

Generated from our solver database · 6-max cash (NL500) & MTT Chip-EV · updated Sep 5, 2026 · method

97s head-to-head

Exact preflop equity against the hands it usually runs into.

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Drill 97s from every seat, or take it to a flop

The table above is 97s preflop at fixed stacks. Drill it with every other hand until the right open is automatic, or put 97s on a board of your choosing and solve the postflop with your own sizes.

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Playing 97s preflop

A strong hand — open from most positions; the CO is the earliest seat it opens. At 5bb it comes into the jamming range from 2 of the 7 seats — short stacks widen what's playable.

Position matters: from under-the-gun (LoJack) 97s opens 0% of the time, rising to 100% on the Button as fewer players are left to act behind you. The later you are, the wider you can open.

The common mistake with 97s is opening it from early position where the solver folds it. Respect the position threshold — it's an open from the CO onward, not before.

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