What is a 3-Bet Poker Strategy? - Betting Ranges & Strategies Explained
Online poker is fairly simple to understand, but its depth of strategies and game dynamics make it complex and extremely interesting to play. One such strategy that has become more popular in online poker is 3-betting.
In this how to guide , we’ll explain what the 3-bet strategy is and how to use it at Stake Casino .
Basics of Online Poker
In poker, the ultimate goal is to beat your opponents by having a stronger hand made up of your hole cards and the community cards. Betting rounds after each set of cards is dealt give players a chance to add money to the pot, and the winning player takes the pot at the end. Find more details on how to play poker which you can implement when playing rounds in Stake Poker, and Stake Poker Tournaments!
What is the 3-Bet Poker Strategy?
In simple terms, a 3-bet is the third bet made in a betting round. After the blinds are made, poker players can either call or raise. The original raise is known as the 2-bet, and if a player raises after this, it’s a 3-bet. This is an aggressive move, typically done by players with strong hands. A player that raises after an initial raise is signalling to the rest of the poker table that they have a strong range, likely causing opponents to fold.
Although most players will only 3-bet when they have a strong hand, it can be an effective strategy for bluffing too. Unless opponents have reason to suspect your buffing or have a strong hand themselves, they’re likely to fold. This can be a great strategy for winning pots pre-flop, though it has the potential to backfire if you’re not careful with speculative hands
3-Betting Example
Let’s say you’re playing a game of online poker at Stake.com with $1 small blind and $2 big blind. You’re in position, so you have an advantage over your opponents, and you hold a king of spades and queen of spades.
All other opponents fold except for the player at the cut-off, who makes an initial raise to $6. You then 3-bet to $18, and your opponent calls. After the flop, your opponent checks, and you keep the aggression up by raising to $24, forcing them to fold.
What Are the Best 3-Betting Ranges?
3-betting is an aggressive strategy, and you need to carefully consider your range before you proceed with your bet and choose your bet size. Here are some examples of ranges you can use when 3-betting:
Strong range – Typically, 3-betting should be reserved for the strongest hands, reducing your risk and ensuring you maximise the value from your hand. However, this can make weaker players more predictable and prevent them from building the pot effectively. As a result, lots of players prefer to use a merged or polarised range.
Polarised range – The ideal 3-betting strategy should mix strong hands with the occasional weaker hand, with bluffing helping to increase your profits long term. However, make sure your weaker hands are at least suited connectors to give you more potential post-flop if opponents call your 3-bet.
When Should You 3-Bet?
Your decision on when to 3-bet shouldn’t be made lightly. You should consider the strength of your hand and the potential types of hands held by your opponents, as well as your position at the table. 3-betting is an aggressive strategy that can be effective for building the pot if used properly.
Whenever you have a strong hand, aggression is key. While it may cause your opponents to fold, it still has more value than failing to build the pot and allowing other players to see the flop cheaply. However, you should still consider the potential ranges of your opponents and your position.
Try to consider the range of hands they’re likely to have. If you’ve been playing against them for a while, you might recognise a pattern in their behaviour and the wide range they normally play. In the late positions, you have an advantage over your opponents and can get away with smaller 3-bet sizes. However, you need to increase the size of your 3-bets in early positions.
What is the Difference Between 3-Betting and 4-Betting?
After a 3-bet, it’s sometimes possible to see a 4-bet, particularly during the pre-flop betting round. A 4-bet is simply an additional raise that follows on from the original raiser and 3-bet. It’s used in the same way, to aggressively build the pot. It’s usually used by players who have an extremely strong hand, such as a high pair.
What Are the Benefits of the 3-Bet Poker Strategy?
The main benefit of 3-betting is building the pot when you have premium hands, increasing your equity and leading to greater long-term profits and increased stack size. If you mix in bluffs with 3-betting, you can also make your playstyle harder to predict.
Best Online Poker Games on Stake Casino
Stake Casino is the best place to play online poker, with a variety of cash games and tournaments to join. You can also enjoy loads of other variations of the game, including stud poker, Caribbean poker, and casino hold ‘em. If you fancy a break from poker, there are plenty of other table games to enjoy, such as online blackjack and baccarat .
If you want more resources on poker strategies, read our how to pay poker guide for beginner tips or our poker slang glossary for more information.
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