3-Bet

Quick Facts by PokerStrategy

• A three-bet is the third bet of a sequence, a reraise over the top of a raise.
• It’s a powerful poker move that can often intimidate beginners.
• It can be done for value with strong hands or as a bluff.
• Three-bet sizing is typically 3x the raise from in position and 4x from out of position.

What Is a 3 Bet in Poker?

A three-bet in poker is the third bet in a sequence, which is the second raise.

So, the action goes bet, raise, three-bet. A three-bet can also be called a reraise more generally. It’s possible to three-bet preflop or postflop, although the term and betting action are more common preflop.

Three betting is an integral part of preflop poker strategy. It’s a move that often intimidates beginners, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be using it to gain an edge.

How Does 3-Betting Work Preflop?

Preflop, the first bet of the round is technically the forced bet made by the big blind.

The second bet is made when any player raises. The third bet is a reraise, also known as a three-bet. If someone raises again preflop, this is a four-bet, and so on.

Three betting is a powerful move to make. It gives the impression of strength and is used to inflate the pot with strong hands, as well as to bluff aggressive open-raisers and take down the pot preflop.

Standard 3-Bet Sizing Explained

When you are in position, the standard three-bet sizing is 2.5x-3x the open-raise. So, if your opponent opens to $3, you should three-bet to $9.

From out of position, you should add a little to compensate for the disadvantage. Make it 3.5-4x the open-raise size. This reduces the caller’s odds and allows you to take down more pots either preflop or on the flop using a chunky bet.

If someone has raised, and a caller comes along, add on the extra amount for the call. Running with our example, if the open-raise is $3 and another player calls, your three-bet from in position would be $12 (3x $3 raise plus $3 call).

3-Bet vs. 4-Bet – What’s the Difference?

A three-bet is the third bet in a sequence, whereas a four-bet is the fourth bet in the sequence, or the third raise. Four-bets imply extreme strength and polarization. The sizing is big and often commits your stack in a tournament. For example, if the open-raise is 200 chips, the three bet is 600 chips, and a typical four-bet is to 1,500 (2.5x).

3-Betting for Value vs. Bluffing

There are two primary reasons why you would three-bet in poker: as a value bet to build the pot, or as a bluff to steal the pot. Value betting is when you are ahead of your opponent’s range and sets you up for bigger bets on the postflop streets. In the case of three-bet bluffing, you’ll usually be targeting aggressive, late position raises to get them to fold.

Example of a 3-Bet in Poker

Here are two examples of a three-bet in poker. The first shows a three-bet for value, and the second shows a three-bet bluff:

Example 1: 3-Bet for Value

In a $1/$2 cash game, the UTG player raises to $6. You have K♠ K♦ in the cutoff and three-bet to $18 for value, looking to get called or shoved on by worse hands like underpairs or AQ. The UTG player calls, and you end up taking a big pot postflop when your opponent makes a pair of queens.

Example 2: 3-Bet Bluff

The blinds are 1,000/2,000 late in a tournament. An aggressive player open-raises to 5,000 from the button. You are in the small blind with A♣ 5♣ and decide to take a stand. You three-bet to 18,000, a little over 3.5x the raise. The button is forced to fold their mediocre hand, and you take down a nice pot preflop.

When Should Beginners 3-Bet?

If you are a beginner and just getting to grips with poker strategy, start by three-betting for value with your very strong hands, such as AA, KK, QQ, and AK. You can three-bet these hands in pretty much any situation.

Most online poker sites deal a high volume of hands, which makes them a great place to practice three-betting and build confidence. As you gain confidence, add in a wider range of value hands and start experimenting with three-bet bluffs against late position raises.

When to Avoid 3-Betting

Three-betting is a costly move if you get it wrong. Here’s when you should generally avoid three-betting:

• When your bluff is unlikely to work, such as against a calling station.
• When you have a medium strength hand that plays better as a call.
• Against tight early position raises, unless you have a monster hand.

When three-betting, always be aware of hand ranges, position, stack sizes, and opponent type.

How to Respond When Facing a 3-Bet

How you respond when faced with a three-bet will depend on several factors. Essentially, though, you are trying to figure out how your own hand strength weighs up against your opponent’s range and whether it’s worth continuing.

If you raise with trash or a medium-strength hand, you’re usually going to fold, unless you have great pot odds due to smaller sizing or a multiway pot situation. With strong hands, you’ll need to decide whether to four-bet for value or flat call to keep weaker hands in the pot.

Four-betting as a bluff is also a possibility if your opponent is three-betting light, although this move is definitely reserved for when you have a solid read.

Common 3-Bet Mistakes Beginners Make

Here are the most common mistakes players make when three-betting in poker:

• Only three-betting premium hands: Three-betting only premium hands makes you very predictable, so other players will easily be able to get out of the way.
• Three-bet bluffing calling stations: Some players just don’t fold, especially preflop. Three-betting them as a bluff is throwing chips away.
• Ignoring position: Three-betting in position is less risky than out of position. You also need to be aware of other players’ positions and how this impacts their ranges.
• Three-betting too small: Three-betting too small, like 2x the raise, gives opponents the odds to call with pretty much any hand, which creates awkward postflop spots with undefined ranges.
• Changing bet sizing on strength: Changing your bet sizing depending on whether you are value betting or bluffing lets other players get a read.
• Three-betting when flatting makes most sense: Three-betting is powerful, but sometimes flatting makes more sense, especially when you can play in position and keep weaker hands in the other player’s range.
• Three-betting without a plan: Whenever you three-bet, whether as a value bet or bluff, you need to have a plan for how you’ll follow up postflop.

Avoiding these mistakes will take your three-betting from a liability into one of your most profitable preflop weapons.

Frequently Asked Questions