If villain rarely folds, 3-betting as a bluff isn’t the smartest play.

So when to use one range over the other? Well that depends heavily on our opponents’ tendencies. An example of a polarized 3-bet range looks something like TT-AA, AJs+, AQo for value and A2s-A5s, 87s, 65s, 22-55 as a bluff. The reasoning behind this is that with a polarized 3-bet range, we get more action with our value hands occasionally picking up pots with some bluffs. On the other hand, a polarized 3-bet range is made up of both value hands as well as bluffs. For example, we can 3-bet TT-AA, AJs+, AQo for value as a standard linear range. A linear 3-bet range is made up entirely of value hands. From this, we can categorize our range of hands as linear 3-bets and polarized 3-bets. When 3-betting preflop, we’ve already established that we can do so for value or as a bluff. Conversely, hands like A3s, KTo, or 97s aren’t good enough to call a preflop raise but are possible candidates to 3-bet as a bluff. Obviously, a 3-bet with these hands is for value. With our premium hands, we want to start building the pot now so it’s easier to get all the money in postflop. Furthermore, there are hands that are entirely way too valuable to simply call a preflop raise, such as AA or KK. We’re either betting for value, which means we want a worse hand to call, or we’re betting as a bluff, meaning we want a better hand to fold. The answer is the same for any time we decide to bet. In short, a 3-bet occurs when a player re-raises the preflop open raiser. Therefore, the third bet is called a 3-bet, the fourth bet is a 4-bet, and so on and so forth. When a player puts in a bet larger than minimum bet, it’s called a raise and considered the second bet, or 2-bet for short. Any subsequent limps are considered calls since it’s calling the minimum bet of the posted big blind (or straddle). In Hold’em, the blinds posted are considered the first bet. Let’s first define what a 3-bet is for anyone completely new to the subject. There’s obviously more advanced concepts but the purpose of this lesson is to provide a general framework for knowing when to 3-bet, the range of hands to do it with, and why. This includes determining the situation, realizing your position, assessing hand strength values, and knowing how to exploit certain tendencies to assure our 3-bet is a profitable play. We need to be able to think beyond the basics. This is because it’s not nearly as simple as following a standard preflop hand chart. For beginner poker players, 3-betting can be a hard concept to grasp, both in theory and application.

Whats a 3 bet in poker