Part: Part Nine - Inflection Points: M, Q & the Zones

The Orange zone: be the aggressor

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800 (100 ante)Pot 2,100 (2.6 BB)Your M = 8 • Orange zoneCOK♦9♦● 16,800 (21 BB)YOUfirst to actSB● 16,800 (21 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 16,800 (21 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

Orange zone (M 8). It folds to you on the cutoff with K♦9♦.

Orange zone, folded to you on the cutoff with K♦9♦. Best?

WhyBe the first one in. In the Orange zone you play to win the pot now and protect fold equity - K-9 suited from the cutoff is a fine first-in hand to raise or jam. Limping forfeits fold equity; folding is too tight at M 8.
What happensYou come in raising; the blinds fold.  You take the blinds and antes.
In the Orange zone (M 6-10) you play to win it pre-flop - be the first raiser, pick up the blinds and antes, and keep your fold equity alive.

Orange zone (M 6-10): be the first one in - raise or jam to win the pot now and protect fold equity.