3-Bet
Context: Poker term: 3-Bet 3-Bet refers to the action of re-raising an opponent's raise (i.e., a 2-Bet) either preflop or postflop. It is a common aggressive action in Texas Hold'em, primarily used to narrow an opponent's range, gain initiative, or value raise. In practice, 3-Bet is often used against players who frequently open-raise, to apply pressure and force them to fold, or to build the pot when holding a strong hand. Properly utilizing 3-Bet can effectively control the pace of the game, but frequency and position must be considered to avoid being exploited by a re-raise (4-Bet).
What is a 3-Bet?
A 3-Bet is a re-raise of an open raise. The name comes from the third raise in the sequence of actions.
Purpose of a 3-Bet
- Value: Build a large pot with strong hands like AA, KK
- Bluff: Apply pressure with blocker hands like A5s
- Isolation: Drive out later players to go heads-up with the open raiser
Common 3-Bet Ranges
The better your position, the wider your 3-Bet range. The 3-Bet range from BTN vs CO open is much wider than BB vs UTG open.