First, let’s talk about what makes a good ZOOM player.
If you’re more of an exploitative player that enjoys table selecting and game dynamics, you’ll most likely prefer regular tables. If you love high-volume, strategic battles, however, ZOOM may be the game for you.
[av_font_icon icon=’ue822′ font=’entypo-fontello’ style=” caption=” link=” linktarget=” size=’1em’ position=’left’ color=” admin_preview_bg=” av_uid=’av-bz9rs2h’][/av_font_icon]Learn the difference between ZOOM and regular tables.
By strategic battles, I’m talking about a player who leans more towards a game optimal theoretical approach, or GTO. That’s not to say you won’t have success if you don’t play a GTO-style, but with the nature of ZOOM games, it definitely helps.
A good ZOOM player also needs to be balanced both preflop and postflop, and notice imbalances in other players as well. Mathematical competency is also a plus, as is understanding things like blockers, combos, ranges, etc. but these are important skills to have in any form of poker, not just ZOOM.
What you don’t want to do is start out playing this massively exploitative style where you’re constantly changing gears and getting involved in some psychological warfare. In ZOOM, you’re not setting up all these game-flow dynamics but instead playing in a fairly balanced and unexploitable way. Or at least that’s the plan.
So with that said, let’s move forward with our preflop open ranges.
PREFLOP OPEN RANGES FOR 6-MAX ZOOM
These ranges are not perfect for 100% of situations so be aware that you will need to deviate from these ranges in various circumstances.
For example, you should look to widen your range when in position versus weaker players, especially when effective stacks are deeper. Conversely, you should look to narrow your range when there are active 3-bettors behind or there are solid players that will call and own you postflop.
So, without further adieu, here are the range charts for 6-max ZOOM. Feel free to download them by clicking on the images.
UTG RANGE
Open all hands in blue when UTG at 2.5bb sizing. Again, know when you need to tighten up here since the whole table is left to act.
MP RANGE
Just like our UTG range, open all hands in blue for 2.5bb sizing. Keep in mind we also have the CO and BTN left to act, so again, know when you should tighten up your range in this spot.
CO RANGE
So here’s where we start to change it up a bit. Our raise size is slightly smaller now at 2.2bb. The dark blue is our standard open range and the lighter blue is our loose open range.
We should look to use our loose range when the player on the BTN is likely to fold when we raise, but more importantly, when there are weak players in the blinds.
BTN RANGE
Open all hands in blue for 2bb sizing. If there are 3-bet happy villains in the blinds, feel free to drop some of the weaker hands.
SB RANGE
Here’s where we vary our strategy a little bit. For the hands in blue, open raise with 2.5bb sizing. For the hands in green, open 2bb sizing. All other hands, either limp or fold.
