3 bet strategy

[hugh_jeffincok]

Hey guys. I'm still struggling with this aspect of my game. Most importantly who, when, why, and how much. As in who to use it against. I assume the LAG or maybe an OOP raise. When to use it; in pos., blinds? Why isn't too hard but more how do you judge who to use it on and who not to. And finally how much do you raise. Something like a min raise? Half stack? All-in? % of pot? And finally if I'm not mistaken a good percent of these raises are pure bluff so how do you finish the hand if you're called. Any info would be extremely helpful, and I appreciate the insight.

[buzesis]

usually if I'm flat called it's a premmy. so to answer how you finish if called... Very carefully.

[ThrillCory90]

This is the best answer I can come up with.

You 3bet after considering what your percieved 3betting range is, what your opponents range is and how parts of his range will react to your 3bet preflop and postflop, how it will affect the profitability of later hands (what it does to your flatting range, future 3bets, how it changes the overall game dynamic with that player and players watching, etc.), and decide that 3betting is better than flatting or folding in that particular spot.

This answer is really abstract because your question is very vague. There is no easy formula on how to play poker. Your better off posting a hand history of a interesting 3betting spot so you can slowly learn the thought process that goes along with preflop play.

[lynch1000s]

Reasons for three betting:

get more money in the pot, to make sure you opponent doesn't such out on you, hope to get reraised (if you have a very strong hand).

It's better than flat calling because you could win the pot instantly if your opponent folds. If you have a very strong hand, you want to get money into the pot. If you have a very strong hand, and get reraised, then you can go all in. If you have strong hand, you can reraise to cut down on your opponents odds, and prevent them from sucking out on you on the flop.

[aidanmyson]

im lost on 3bet? well whats ur hand? but more importantly whats ur opponents hand? so i guess i have NO IDEA. gl dont know why i even replied but i started so....

[rryu87]

In my opinion, its more about what are you trying to accomplish with the 3bet at certain spots. Are you trying to build a big pot? Are you trying to put pressure on your opponents? do you want them to fold? There is no "3betting just because I have a hand"

kinda brief, but somewhere along there I believe... maybe someone else could go in depth. pm thang911 about 3bets and 4 bets based on feel.

[cardsfan04]

Very broad question, so hard to give a good answer, but I'll give it a go.

Whenever you 3bet (or bet in any form really), you should have a reason. You shouldn't do it just to do it or based on the strength of your hand. You want to have a goal for the bet (and your hand strength generally determines this goal).

Several reasons to 3bet:

1. The most common reason is to get value. If you ahve a good hand, it makes sense to play a big pot, so you raise (not because you have a good hand), but to build a pot. The size you should raise depends on how you think your opponent will react. Some people view big raises as bluffs or only pretty strong hands (i.e. AQ/99) and small raises as bigger hands like AA/KK. Others might see a small raise as you leaving yourself room to fold and a bigger raise as you saying that you're not going anywhere. You determine how they will interpret your raise based on how you have played hands in the past and how they have responded in similar situations.

2. Sometimes you should raise for fold equity. This part is far more complex than the first reason to 3bet. The first one is fairly straight forward as you are playing the strength of your hand. But, when you raise for fold equity, you are raising both the strength of your hand AND the strength of your opponents' hand. Don't get me wrong, the percieved strength of your opponent's hand factors into raising for value. But, it is the main focus of this point.

You should always range your opponent when he raises and deciding on an action. Putting him on AK because he raised (if you've played live, you have heard this line before) is just dumb. Your range doesn't have to be exact, but you need to have a pretty good idea. It's not too difficult to figure out if they are raising a wide range based on just observing their tendencies. People who rarely raise, often have a hand when they raise. People who raise often sometimes have a hand, but also have hands like 78 frequently too. The wider range you give them, the wider range you should 3bet. That's a pretty solid fundamental of 3betting IMO. But, you also need to take into consideration how often they fold to a 3bet. If somebody raises a really wide range, but calls 100% of the time they are 3bet, 3betting them w/ air is pretty counterproductive.

I hate making rules for something like this, but I'll try to give some very GENERAL guidelines for it:

- if you have a big hand, and you think your opponent has a big hand, you should 3bet instead of slowplay (assuming you think your big hand is bigger)

- if you have a big hand and you think your opponent has a marginal hand, you should consider slowplaying

- if you have a marginal hand and you think your opponent has a big hand, you should consider folding

- if you have a marginal hand and you thinkg your opponent has a marginal hand, you should consider 3betting IF your opponent might fold to a raise


These are very very very general guidelines and don't even come close to doing justice to all of the factors you should consider. But, they are fundamentally correct.

[Cambo71]

Very broad question, so hard to give a good answer, but I'll give it a go.

Whenever you 3bet (or bet in any form really), you should have a reason. You shouldn't do it just to do it or based on the strength of your hand. You want to have a goal for the bet (and your hand strength generally determines this goal).

Several reasons to 3bet:

1. The most common reason is to get value. If you ahve a good hand, it makes sense to play a big pot, so you raise (not because you have a good hand), but to build a pot. The size you should raise depends on how you think your opponent will react. Some people view big raises as bluffs or only pretty strong hands (i.e. AQ/99) and small raises as bigger hands like AA/KK. Others might see a small raise as you leaving yourself room to fold and a bigger raise as you saying that you're not going anywhere. You determine how they will interpret your raise based on how you have played hands in the past and how they have responded in similar situations.

2. Sometimes you should raise for fold equity. This part is far more complex than the first reason to 3bet. The first one is fairly straight forward as you are playing the strength of your hand. But, when you raise for fold equity, you are raising both the strength of your hand AND the strength of your opponents' hand. Don't get me wrong, the percieved strength of your opponent's hand factors into raising for value. But, it is the main focus of this point.

You should always range your opponent when he raises and deciding on an action. Putting him on AK because he raised (if you've played live, you have heard this line before) is just dumb. Your range doesn't have to be exact, but you need to have a pretty good idea. It's not too difficult to figure out if they are raising a wide range based on just observing their tendencies. People who rarely raise, often have a hand when they raise. People who raise often sometimes have a hand, but also have hands like 78 frequently too. The wider range you give them, the wider range you should 3bet. That's a pretty solid fundamental of 3betting IMO. But, you also need to take into consideration how often they fold to a 3bet. If somebody raises a really wide range, but calls 100% of the time they are 3bet, 3betting them w/ air is pretty counterproductive.

I hate making rules for something like this, but I'll try to give some very GENERAL guidelines for it:

- if you have a big hand, and you think your opponent has a big hand, you should 3bet instead of slowplay (assuming you think your big hand is bigger)

- if you have a big hand and you think your opponent has a marginal hand, you should consider slowplaying

- if you have a marginal hand and you think your opponent has a big hand, you should consider folding

- if you have a marginal hand and you thinkg your opponent has a marginal hand, you should consider 3betting IF your opponent might fold to a raise


These are very very very general guidelines and don't even come close to doing justice to all of the factors you should consider. But, they are fundamentally correct.

E.J. I have to say that this is a pretty great post even though it is a couple of months old. I struggled today in the miniftops in trying to 3bet and amp up my aggression. I think my poker instinct is very good at what I play a lot. (45s) I am used to playing short stacks, I think playing larger stacks is more difficult and takes more skill. I think I am better in 45s than the 90s because I better with short stack play.

[Acesfull1026]

I 3 bet for many reasons in tourneys but usually its two reasons, I have big hands, or i think my opponents are weak. This doesn't mean that i always 3bet my aa and kk and ak, but a large % or the time.

In Event #10 yesterday, I had 85 on the button with around 90 bb's... MP minraises for the 4th time in 2 rotations, and the CO flats. MP is going to fold to a 3bet often since i perceived him to have a wide range, and the CO i figured small pp's, suited connectors, Ax suited, broadways cards etc...

I 3bet because i was in position with a large stack and perceived my oppenents to have marginal hands. the blinds were 300/600 with 75 antes and with a raise and the call, the pot had 6 1/2 bb's (3975). My 3 bet was to 4000 and MP folded (which was the scariest player in the hand), and the CO called. I narrowed his range to possibly suited connectors but weighted heavily towards a small pp. The flop comes KQJ which is a huge flop to my perceived range and terrible for his, since its hard for him to continue with even AQ or AJ. I c-bet and take down the pot.

Not sure if many people would agree w this play, but i typically play my best poker when i play by my reads/feel. This play should be selective and not forced however, and when called proceed w caution.

[JUMP PUTT]

Very broad question indeed.....i would have to say if you don't know the difference i would probably stick to 3-betting for value only until you get a better feel for what you're trying to accomplish with this very powerfull but highly miss-used weapon.....except for spots where you are short enough(14-25BB)that you can just stuff on villians that you feel are light.....once you're more comfortable with ppl's opening ranges and how they play post flop...you can start flatting or 3-betting light(only in position would be advised, especially against players who you feel are much more prone to call then fold). GLGLGL