Hey everyone,
I'm seeing a lot of people across all forums misusing these terms. So I thought I'd create a sticky to explain it all once and for all.
The confusion arises from what seems like a difference in terminology when describing preflop vs postflop action. So we will first explain these terms in the context of postflop.
Postflop:
If it's checked to someone or if someone is first to act, that person "bets".
Raising this bet is then referred to as a raise or a "2-bet".
Reraising this raise is then referred to as a reraise or a "3-bet".
Reraising this is then referred to as a re-reraise (if you're retarded) or a "4-bet" (if you're sensible).
And so on..
Preflop:
The confusion is because of preflop. In no limit and fixed limit games, people post a blind. This blind is actually short for a "blind bet". Therefore when someone raises this "blind" bet, it is referred to as a raise.
That is why if someone raises this raise, it is then referred to as a "3-bet" or a "reraise".
4-bets, 5-bets and 6-bets follow on logically.
I will now illustrate these concepts with some examples from cash games.
3-bet Examples:
Preflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $2(BB) Replayer
SB ($267)
BB ($81.45)
UTG ($359)
UTG+1 ($293)
CO ($213)
Hero ($200)
Dealt to Hero 2

K
fold, fold, CO raises to $7,
Hero raises to $21, fold, fold, fold
Hero shows 2

K
Hero wins $17
Postflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $2(BB) Replayer
SB ($205)
BB ($305)
Hero ($263)
UTG+1 ($360)
CO ($152)
BTN ($200)
Dealt to Hero 6

5
Hero raises to $7, fold, CO calls $7, fold, fold, fold
FLOP ($17) A

T

5
Hero bets $11, CO raises to $26,
Hero raises to $41, CO folds
Hero shows 6

5
Hero wins $66
4-bet Examples:
Preflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $2(BB) Replayer
SB ($221)
BB ($147)
UTG ($270)
UTG+1 ($165)
CO ($217)
Hero ($200)
Dealt to Hero A

3
fold, fold, fold,
Hero raises to $6, SB raises to $21, fold,
Hero raises to $44, fold
Hero shows A

3
Hero wins $44
Postflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $1(BB) Replayer
SB ($185)
Hero ($101)
UTG ($100)
CO ($183)
BTN ($269)
Dealt to Hero J

T
fold, fold, fold, SB raises to $5,
Hero calls $4
FLOP ($10) K

7

9
SB bets $7.50,
Hero raises to $15, SB raises to $36,
Hero raises to $95, SB folds
Hero shows J

T
Hero wins $79
5-bet Examples:
Preflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $1(BB) Replayer
SB ($119)
BB ($21)
UTG ($55.84)
CO ($352)
Hero ($109)
Dealt to Hero 3

A
fold, CO raises to $3.50,
Hero raises to $10, fold, fold, CO raises to $25,
Hero raises to $109 (AI), fold
Hero shows 3

A
Hero wins $51.50
Postflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $1(BB) Replayer
SB ($153)
BB ($184)
Hero ($99.50)
CO ($46.60)
BTN ($84.95)
Dealt to Hero A

T
Hero raises to $4, fold, fold,
SB calls $3.50, fold
FLOP ($9) A

9

8
SB checks, Hero bets $6.50, SB raises to $13, Hero raises to $19.50, SB raises to $26, Hero raises to $95.50 (AI), SB calls $69.50
TURN ($200) A

9

8

J
RIVER ($200) A

9

8

J

6
SB shows 8

Q
(Pre 36%, Flop 22.8%, Turn 11.4%)
Hero shows A

T
(Pre 64%, Flop 77.2%, Turn 88.6%)
Hero wins $197
6-bet Examples:
Preflop:
Grabbed by
Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $2(BB) Replayer
SB ($201)
BB ($314)
UTG ($309)
CO ($200)
Hero ($292)
Dealt to Hero K

A
fold, fold,
Hero raises to $6, fold, BB raises to $22,
Hero raises to $48, BB raises to $100,
Hero raises to $292 (AI), fold
Hero shows K

A
Hero wins $201