In aggressive no-limit poker games, it's common for players to reraise after an initial raise. This move is known as a 3-bet in Texas hold'em. But what exactly is a 3-bet, why should you use it, and what are the advantages? Keep reading to learn more!
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A 3-bet in hold'em refers to the third bet that enters the pot after the blind and the first raise.
However, it is not just a name for the third bet in the hand. The 3-bet is also a clever poker tactic and it is one that can be very effective when used well.
There are many reasons to 3-bet in poker. How effectively it can be used is dependent upon the pot odds, stack sizes, position, your opponents and the type of game your playing. For example, tournaments, cash games, pot limit or no limit.
However, the simple reason players often 3-bet in Texas hold'em is because they are aggressive players often looking to chip up.
Using the 3-bet effectively takes some practice. It is a skill that needs to be used at the right time, in a viable context and against the right opponent.
It isn't a play you'll make with a lot of frequency, even for the super aggressive player. But understanding the basic concept and how to effectively mix it into your preflop and postflop game adds a greater degree of complexity to your game.
Used well, mastering the 3-bet makes you dangerous and unpredictable to opponents.
The question is, how can you master the 3-bet and raise your game. Check out some scenarios where it definitely makes sense to 3-bet in poker.
Perhaps the easiest example of a 3-bet is the 3-bet shove. This is when a player opens the pot and you shove in all your chips over the top. Simple in its execution, you leave it up to your opponent to decide what to do next.
This is a popular tactic if you're a short stack in a tournament, giving you the chance to chip up whether you're called or not. Especially compared to open shoving and stealing just the blinds and antes.
You've got a stack of t6,000 when the blinds are t200/t400/(t50) at an 8 handed table. You have an M* of 6 and it costs t1,000 a round to play. Open shoving nets you a t1,000 profit when it works. However, if an aggressive player with t13,000 opens to t1,100 and you shove over her open from the button, you net a t2,100 profit every time your shove works.
You have enough left in your stack (t4,900) to get her to fold away a lot of speculative hands, as her stack is effectively halved if she calls and loses. And if she folds, you add t2,100 to your stack, getting you a decent step out of the danger zone.
*M of 6 – M refers to the strength of your stack in a hand compared to the size of the blinds. In this example, M of 6 means that the player holds enough chips to play for another six rounds where they make the compulsory small blind, big blind and ante bets. It is also viewed as how many “laps around the table” a player has remaining.
Be aware of how you're perceived at your table and also of what your opponents are capable of before you react to a 3-bet shove. Do you think they're capable of the 3-bet bluff? Then you may be calling that M6 shove with two sixes or KJ. Meanwhile, a tight, no-frills player would probably have you folding those same hands.
The 3-bet shove range is a lot wider than most other reraises. In fact, it's the lightest type of 3-bet in hold'em. That is because super-aggressive players can 3-bet on any two cards from the blinds for all their chips. But they are only likely to do so if they think the player opening on the button or cutoff is doing so lightly, or if the situation in the game requires this particular strategy to increase their chip stack.
Next, let's look at an example that is suited for both cash games and tournaments. Introducing your standard 3 bet with chips behind.
At a $1/$2 game, effective stacks $300, you open to $8 on the cutoff with two black nines. The player on the button is a tricky, aggressive player. He 3 bets you to $35. When everyone folds back to you, you have a difficult decision on your hands.
He raises enough to make it difficult to set mine. He could be holding a strong hand, but he could also be doing this with a wide range.
Having said that, he also has positional advantage, plus the 3-bet puts the power and control of the hand in his hands. That makes it hard to play against him.
This is why the deep-stacked 3-bet (and, to a lesser extent, four-bet) is one of the strongest plays a player can wield in his arsenal.
Players that prefer to play timid and flat-call more than 3-bets in poker are passing up a lot of opportunities to take control of hands.
It can work as a pot-controlling method against aggressive post-flop players. Its price sets preflop what you will pay to see the turn. Most players check to the aggressor, allowing you to use the 3-bet to see four cards for what you'd typically see three with.
The final form of the 3 bet that we'll look at is the post-flop heads-up 3-bet. This is when you bet out, get raised, and reraise, either all-in or for a significant chunk of chips.
In a $1/$2 game with $300 effective stacks, you raise preflop to $7 with two eights, and get called by the big blind. You flop a set on a wet board, 985cc, and your opponent checks. You bet $15, and your opponent check raises to $50.
This is a prime spot to 3 bet shove your stack in, as there are a lot of hands that have good equity against your seemingly monster hand, A7cc, J10. Drawing hands of that nature and taking down the $115 in the pot with your shove may actually be ideal to coin flipping for $600.
You can also use the 3-bet post-flop as an effective squeeze play with multiple players in the pot. A player bets $20 into $30 on a 4,5,10 rainbow flop, and the super-aggressive player next to act raises to $50. You hold 67d, and think there's a fair chance you can get both players to fold if you shove $290 total into the pot.
The power of the 3-bet shove comes to your aid, as your hand looks incredibly strong on such an innocuous board. With a super-aggro player making the raise, there's a very good chance your shove will take down a $100 pot without a showdown.
When facing a 3-bet, your response should depend on several factors:
Ultimately, your goal is to assess whether your hand is likely ahead of your opponent’s range and whether you can profitably continue in the hand.
Now it's time to put your new 3-bet poker skills to the test. A great place to do that is online, where you at least don't have the pressure of people staring at you while you make your ballsy moves.
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A 3-bet is the third raise in a round of betting. It happens when one player raises the original bet, and a second player re-raises that raise. For example, if Player A bets, Player B raises, and Player C raises again, Player C's raise is the 3-bet.
3-betting is usually a move made with strong hands, like high pairs (e.g., AA, KK, QQ) or premium suited connectors (e.g., AKs, AQs). However, it can also be used as a bluff to pressure opponents, particularly if you believe they might fold weaker hands to your aggressive play.
A 3-bet bluff is when you re-raise (3-bet) with a weaker or speculative hand to push your opponent out of the pot. This strategy relies on your ability to represent a strong hand and your opponent’s likelihood of folding in response to your aggressive move.
Consider the following:
Stack sizes: Deep stacks allow for more post-flop play, which might favor speculative 3-bets. Shorter stacks require more cautious 3-betting.
Your position: 3-betting from a late position is often more effective because you have more information about your opponents' actions.
Opponent tendencies: If your opponent is known to fold to aggression, a 3-bet bluff might be effective. Against a tight player, you might 3-bet with strong hands for value.
Your hand strength: Only 3-bet with hands that can either improve post-flop or that you are confident will hold up against a potential 4-bet.
Responses to a 3-bet depend on your hand, position, and read on the opponent:
Fold: If you think your hand is likely dominated, folding might be the best option.
Call: If you have a hand with good potential or believe the 3-bet is a bluff, you can call to see the flop.
4-Bet: With a very strong hand, you might want to 4-bet to increase the pressure.
Yes, but the effectiveness varies. 3-betting from early position usually represents a very strong hand since you're acting before most players. From late position, 3-betting can be a mix of value betting and bluffing, depending on your hand and the situation.
Common mistakes include:
Ignoring stack sizes: Not adjusting your 3-betting range based on the stack sizes can lead to putting yourself in tough situations.
3-betting too often: This can make you predictable and allow opponents to exploit your strategy.
3-betting with weak hands out of position: This often leads to difficult post-flop situations where you're at a disadvantage.
A 3-bet significantly increases the pot size and often forces weaker hands to fold. It also narrows the field of players, often leading to heads-up situations post-flop. The 3-bettor also typically takes the initiative, allowing them to apply pressure on later streets.
3-betting is common in both, but the strategies can differ. In cash games, players might 3-bet more liberally due to deeper stacks. In tournaments, where stack preservation is crucial, 3-betting is often more polarised, with either very strong hands or bluffs.
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