What Is a 3-Bet? How to Use Re-Raises to Win More Pots
A 3-bet is the third bet in a betting sequence and usually refers to a preflop re-raise. In No-Limit Hold'em, the blinds count as the first bet, an open-raise is the second, and the re-raise is the third—hence "3-bet." Understanding how and when to 3-bet lets you isolate weak opens, protect your premium value hands, and build a balanced strategy that holds up against solvers and sharp regs alike.
3-Bet Definition and Poker Math Basics
An optimal 3-bet strategy balances two goals: extracting value with premium hands and applying pressure with well-chosen bluffs. When you 3-bet, you force the opener to continue with a stronger range or surrender the pot, increasing your expected value immediately. Because the pot grows rapidly, misapplying 3-bets is costly—so you need structured ranges, blocker awareness, and stack-depth adjustments baked into your plan.
- Value 3-bets: Premium hands like AA, KK, AK that aim to get stacks in versus worse holdings.
- Bluff 3-bets: Profitable re-raises using blockers (e.g., A♠5♦) to fold out better unpaired hands.
- Polar vs. merged ranges: Out of position, stick to polar mixes (strong value + bluffs). In position, merged ranges allow thin value 3-bets against loose opens.
When Should You 3-Bet?
1. Identify the Opener’s Tendencies
Wide open-raising ranges from the button or cutoff invite more 3-bet bluffs. Against tight under-the-gun players, lean heavily into value combos and fold more marginal holdings. Tracking population tendencies inside GTO Gecko and comparing them to our primer on range construction keeps your re-raises precise.
2. Weigh Position and Stack Depth
Acting in position with deep stacks increases the profitability of broad 3-bet ranges because you realise equity more effectively. Shorter stacks encourage linear 3-bets that can commit post-flop, while deeper cash games benefit from polar mixes that apply capped-range pressure. For a refresher on stack-aware adjustments, review our GTO poker beginner’s guide.
3. Use Blockers to Power Your Bluffs
Blockers reduce the number of premium hands your opponent can continue with. Hands like A♣5♣ or K♦Q♦ make excellent 3-bet bluffs because they block AA/KK/AK while carrying playability when called. Dive deeper into this removal logic in the blockers vs. unblockers breakdown.
Example: Button 3-Bets the Cutoff
Scenario: 100bb cash, cutoff opens to 2.5bb, button 3-bets to 8.5bb.
Solver-Inspired Range Breakdown
- Value: JJ+, AKs, AKo at full frequency; AQs and TT at partial frequency.
- Bluffs: A5s–A4s, KQs, some suited Broadway combos that maintain equity versus a 4-bet.
- Exploits: If the cutoff over-folds to 3-bets, widen suited wheel aces and suited connectors; if they 4-bet aggressively, tighten bluffs and shift to 4-bet reshoves with AQ/TT.
Key takeaway: Your button 3-bet range should still contain high-card equity when called. Avoid junky offsuit hands that flop poorly and can’t realise equity post-flop.
Defending Against 3-Bets
Facing a 3-bet, the opener must continue with a minimum defense frequency (MDF) to stay unexploitable. That means mixing calls, 4-bets, and folds according to position, stack depth, and rake environment. Use GTO Gecko to compare EV between flatting and 4-betting, and revisit our guidance on deviating from GTO for player-specific adjustments.
Common 3-Bet Mistakes
- 3-betting dominated offsuit hands. Hands like KJo create reverse implied odds when called. Swap them for suited wheel aces that block premium holdings.
- Ignoring bankroll pressure. Moving up stakes without a proper roll forces scared money decisions—review bankroll management fundamentals to maintain discipline.
- Failing to mix frequencies. Always or never 3-betting specific combos becomes predictable. GTO-approved mixes, similar to those in our solver walkthrough, make you tougher to exploit.
3-Bet FAQ
- Is a 3-bet always preflop?
- Most players use the term for preflop re-raises, but technically a flop raise after a bet and call is also a 3-bet. Context matters, so specify the street when discussing hands.
- How big should my 3-bet be?
- In position, target 3.5–4× the original raise. Out of position, size closer to 4.5–5× to deny implied odds and compensate for positional disadvantage.
- Can I 3-bet bluff live games?
- Yes, but pick spots carefully. Live players under-fold less, so start with blocker-rich suited aces and expand once you gauge your table’s tendencies.
Next Steps for Your 3-Bet Strategy
Build a simple 3-bet chart for each position, drill it in GTO Gecko, and track how opponents respond. Add exploitative tweaks as you gather data, and keep reinforcing fundamentals with articles like range construction and GTO poker essentials. Mastering 3-bets is one of the fastest ways to grow your win rate and take control of aggressive pots.