Range Construction: Principles and Practical Examples

What is Cold Calling a 3-Bet?

Cold calling a 3-bet means that preflop, after one player raises and another player re-raises (3-bets), you as the next player choose to call rather than 4-bet or fold. This play requires careful range construction because you lack initiative and are often at a positional disadvantage.

Core Principles of Range Construction

1. Position is Paramount

• When in position (e.g., BTN, CO): You can cold call wider because you have a postflop positional advantage, allowing better control of the pot.
• When out of position (e.g., BB, SB): You should be strict with your range, only cold calling with strong hands or hands with good playability, such as high pairs, suited connectors, etc.

2. Opponent Tendencies

• Against a tight-aggressive 3-bet range: You need stronger hands like TT+, AQ+.
• Against a loose-aggressive 3-bet range: You can loosen up, adding more medium pairs, suited connectors, or Axs.

3. Stack Depth

• Deep stacks (100BB+): Suitable for speculative hands like suited connectors and small pairs, hoping to hit strong hands postflop.
• Shallow stacks (<50BB): Stick to value hands; avoid calling with marginal hands because effective stacks are too small for postflop maneuvers.

Example Cold Call 3-Bet Range (100BB deep, BTN vs CO 3-bet)

The following is an example; adjust based on specific opponents:

• Value hands (~15%): QQ-99, AK, AQs. These hands have enough equity and can hold up against a 4-bet range.
• Speculative hands (~10%): Suited connectors like JTs-87s, suited one-gappers like KTs, small pairs like 77-55. These hands are profitable when they hit strong draws or sets.
• Some Axs and KQo: A2s-A5s (as potential drawing hands), KQo (as a strong made hand but avoid being dominated).

Hands to avoid cold calling:

• Weak offsuit Ax (below A9o) — easily dominated by opponent's AK/AQ.
• Medium suited connectors (below T9s) — unless opponent is very loose.
• Junk like offsuit JTo.

Adjustments

1. Against a 4-bet

• Have a folding plan: Most speculative hands should fold directly when facing a 4-bet.
• Strong value hands: QQ+, AK can consider 5-bet jamming or 4-betting, depending on opponent.

2. Postflop Play

• In position: Use positional advantage — c-bet or check-raise on the flop.
• Out of position: Lean toward check-raise or check-fold; avoid passive calling.

3. Against Different Styles

• Against tight opponents: Tighten your calling range, use more 4-bets.
• Against aggressive opponents: Add more small and medium pairs to induce bluffs.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Cold calling means passive play. Fact: With a well-constructed range, you should be aggressive postflop, especially when the flop favors your range.
• Mistake: All suited connectors are good for cold calling. Fact: Position and stack depth determine playability; small suited connectors are more likely to lose money in multiway pots.

Summary

Constructing a cold call 3-bet range requires balancing position, opponent, and stack depth. By mixing value and speculative hands, avoiding dominated hands, and adjusting for different situations, you can increase your postflop profit opportunities. It's recommended to track opponents' 3-bet and 4-bet tendencies in practice and continuously optimize your range.