Poker 3 Bet Strategy
- Poker 3 Bet Strategy Tactics
- Poker 3 Bet Strategy Poker
- Poker 3 Bet Strategy Blackjack
- Poker 3 Bet Strategy Challenge
By Alton Hardin
Introduction
Poker 3 Bet Strategy Tactics
For beginners, 3-betting can be a confusing concept to understand and properly apply at the poker tables. With so much theory being discussed in books, forums, and training videos its easy for beginners to get lost in a fog of poker haze, not knowing when to 3-bet, what range of hands to 3-bet and why. The purpose of this article is to provide a basic framework that beginning and struggling poker players can use to effectively 3-bet.
What Is The Pre-Flop 3-Bet?
First off, lets level set what a pre-flop 3-bet is. A 3-bet occurs when someone open-raises and another person re-raises pre-flop. The re-raise is a 3-bet. This might be a bit confusing to some people because the 3-bet is the second raise, why is this? Well, in Texas Holdem the posted blinds are considered the first bet, the initial open raise is considered the second bet, and the re-raise is therefore the third bet, hence the term 3-bet.
- Three Betting in Poker - What is Three Betting. Three betting has increased in popularity as poker games have gotten more and more aggressive. If you’re not making constant three bets, you are probably being crushed by the other aggressive players at the table. The problem with three betting for most players, is that they are three betting.
- Three Betting in Poker - What is Three Betting. Three betting has increased in popularity as poker games have gotten more and more aggressive. If you’re not making constant three bets, you are probably being crushed by the other aggressive players at the table. The problem with three betting for most players, is that they are three betting.
A 3-bet is when there has been a raise and then another raise after that. Simple enough, but let me give you one quick example to drive it home: After the SB and BB post the $1 and $2 blinds, lets say there is a raise to $8 from a player in MP. If another player in LP raises it again to $24, this is called a 3-bet.
Linear and Polarized 3-Bets
In poker, there are two main categories of 3-bets, linear and polarized 3-bets:
Linear 3-Betting Range
A linear 3-betting range is one composed solely of value-bets. When we 3-bet a linear range, we are 3-betting for value. For example, the image below shows a linear value 3-betting range of JJ+, AQs+, AKo.
Polarized 3-Betting Range
A polarized 3-betting range is one composed of a combination of value hands and bluffs. So, unlike the linear 3-betting range, when we 3-bet a polarized range, we are sometimes betting for value and other times bluffing. The below image shows a polarized 3-betting range composed of value hands and bluff hands. In this example, we are 3-betting TT+, AJs+, AQ+ for value and 44-22, A4s-A2s, 87s, 76s as a bluff.
Why Do We 3-Bet?
Hopefully you’ve already noticed this from the section above, but we 3-bet for two specific reasons:
- When we have a hand that is too good to call, such as KK or AA for value
- When we have a hand that is too bad to call, such as A2s or 33
If we have a hand that fits within these two different reasons, then we have a hand we can “potentially” 3-bet.
Linear or Polarized?
So which should you use, the linear or polarized 3-betting model? It depends on our opponents.
Can We 3-Bet Bluff?
You probably heard the phrase, “never bluff the calling station”. Well the same goes for 3-bets. You should only apply the polarized 3-betting model with 3-bet bluffs if your opponent(s) are folding to a lot of 3-bets. If they aren’t, then 3-bet bluffing will only cause you to unnecessarily spew off a lot of chips pre-flop. Conversely, if your opponent(s) are folding to a high frequency of 3-bets, approximately 67% then you can 3-bet bluff profitably.
Therefore, 3-bet bluffing and the polarized 3-betting model works best when you have a lot of fold equity. When your fold equity is low, don’t apply this model and stick with the linear 3-betting model.
How Wide Should We Value 3-Bet Bet?
Again, this is dependent upon how your opponent(s) are reacting to 3-bets. When you are 3-betting for value, the most important factor is your opponent’s 3-bet calling range and 4-betting range.
When you are 3-betting for value, you goal is to maximize your long-term expectation in the hand by having your opponents call your 3-bet with worse hands. For example, if your opponent is folding to 100% of 3-bets (this isn’t really realistic but proves a point), then it does you no good to 3-bet KK or AA. Against this specific opponent it is more profitable to flat his or her pre-flop raise. Conversely, if your opponent is folding to next to no 3-bets, then it is highly profitable to 3-bet a very wide range for value!
So here are some general guidelines on 3-betting for value:
- Always adjust your 3-bet value range to how your opponents react to 3-bets
- Consider your opponent’s 3-bet flatting range and 4-betting range
- The less your opponent is folding to 3-bets, the more you can widen your value range
Low versus High Fold Equity
Therefore, if you have high fold equity you should employ the polarized model. If you have low fold equity, use the linear 3-betting model.
3-Bet Sizing
When sizing your 3-bets, I recommend beginner start with the 3x rule: raise three times your opponents initial open raise sizing.
- When you are out of position to the raiser, make your sizing a bit more, closer to 3.5x. Why? Our positional disadvantage in the hand.
- When you are in position to the raiser, make you sizing a bit less, closer to 2.8x. Why? Our positional advantage in the hand.
Summing Up
This short poker strategy article on 3-betting 101 covered the basics behind 3-betting and linear versus polarized 3-betting ranges. While this article is far from being a comprehensive 3-betting strategy guide, it should help guide beginners in the right direction with their 3-betting game.
For a more comprehensive overview of 3-betting, be sure to watch our The Three-Betting 101 Course!
Three betting has increased in popularity as poker games have gotten more and more aggressive. If you’re not making constant three bets, you are probably being crushed by the other aggressive players at the table.
The problem with three betting for most players, is that they are three betting either too frequently or not often enough. It can be a challenge to find this middle range.
Poker 3 Bet Strategy Poker
Purpose of 3 Betting
Three bets serve two primary purposes. The first reason that players three bet is because they have a b hand and want to extract the most value possible. The second primary reason why players three bet is because they want to help balance their range. Balancing a range is when you make a bluff in the same spot where you could be making a raise with a b hand. If you make the same plays over and over again when you have a b hand, the other players are going to pick up on it. If you occasionally make a bluff in a spot where you might have a b hand, however, your opponents are going to be caught off guard. This is why it is important that you balance your range and not play predictable poker.
Three betting can be a tricky skill as you don’t want to raise too much, but you don’t want a raise too little either. The effectiveness of any three bet is going to depend upon a handful of variables. If you’re making a three bet against a loose player, you should generally have a b hand. These players hate to fold, so three betting that the weekend is pointless. When you three bet with weaker hands you want to force folds whenever possible, so you should be making them against players who are capable of folding.
Poker 3 Bet Strategy Blackjack
Identifying a loose player versus a tight player can be a challenge in and of itself. Once you’ve played a few orbits with a set group of players, it should be easy to tell who is playing tight and who’s playing loose. If you don’t have any type of read or feel for someone at your table, you should avoid making three bets without a b hand.
How to Size Your Three Bets
The sizing of your three bets will largely determine how effective they are. If your three bets are always tiny, you’re going to get a lot more calls than if they are large. This doesn’t mean that you should make large three bets when you have a weak hand in an effort to force folds. Your bet sizing should be dependent upon the person you are raising. If you don’t want to play post-flop, and really want to force folds, you should make a bet that looks like a b hand. Generally, players that have a b hand are going to make raises that are large enough for call, but not so big that they’re going to force folds. This is a problem that many players have, trying to make abnormally large bets in order to force folds. Make your bets believable and you’re going to find that you get folds a lot more often.
Deception is everything in poker, if your opponents think you’re doing one thing and you’re actually doing another, you’re going to be very profitable.
Poker 3 Bet Strategy Challenge
Strategy Article 1. Limit Holdem Starting Hands
Strategy Article 2. Omaha Hi Lo Starting Hands
Strategy Article 3. No Limit Starting Hands
Strategy Article 4. Omaha Hi Starting Hands