It seems like everywhere you turn, there's a trend in fashion that people are rigidly adhering to. Many are busy capturing pointless TikTok dances and spreading around the latest trending memes that have surfaced recently.
- Why on earth do people behave like this?
- Are we seeking validation from others, or is there a deeper reason behind this behavior?
In truth, mimicking others is a fundamental aspect of human nature. Confucius noted it as one of the three primary methods through which we gain knowledge. Additionally, we are naturally social beings who crave acceptance within our communities.
Consequently, our motivation for imitating behavior often boils down to nothing more than the idea of 'everyone else is doing it.' Philosopher Eric Hoffer pointed out that 'When people are free to do as they like, they tend to imitate one another.'
For many of us, our journey into poker began with imitation. Maybe you were inspired to play after watching poker on television or because friends were already engaged in the game – this is yet another form of imitation, isn't it?
With minimal understanding of the game and a strong desire to avoid looking foolish, you likely mirrored the betting amounts, lingo, and chip manipulations of your peers.
This approach was validated by Confucius, making it quite reasonable indeed.
Understanding the Mechanics and Intentions in Poker is Essential!
In addition to the social advantages of mimicking others, it's worth noting that poker can be quite dull to observe:
Copying the actions of others can serve as a stealthy way to grasp the fundamentals.
However, using what you witness at the poker tables to inform your play has its limits. This method tends to restrict your development to the skill level of those around you. And even if you are fortunate enough to be among experienced players, discerning what to imitate can be quite challenging.
The effectiveness of a specific poker play Determining what works best in short-term scenarios can be tricky. If you mimic the wrong actions, it becomes all too easy to develop poor habits or accept mistakes that can severely impact your results.
To truly reach your potential, focusing on the reasoning behind the actions you’re imitating is crucial. This approach will allow you to analyze the strategies employed by others and imitate them more discerningly.
This article will examine a commonly misrepresented action in poker, the 3bet . The aim is to encourage a more critical mindset towards this move so that you can execute 3-bets more successfully.
What Is 3betting?
You might already understand what a 3-bet entails. But just to clarify, a 3-bet occurs when there is a second raise in any betting round of a poker hand .
Say an opponent raises to $20 in a $2/$5 game preflop , where one player bets $60 following an initial raise. In this case, that $60 would indeed represent a 3-bet (the initial blind and the first raise are considered the first and second bets, respectively).
In a scenario where a player places a $20 bet, and this is followed by a raise to $60 and then a re-raise to $170, the $170 bet qualifies as a 3-bet.
While post-flop 3-bets are less common and usually indicate a strong hand, occasional bluffs can occur. As you play at higher stakes or encounter players who are inclined to tilt, 3-betting becomes increasingly commonplace.
Since you will encounter pre-flop 3-bets far more frequently, we will dedicate our attention to this aspect in the article.
Both types of betting have their subtleties, but fundamentally, there are two primary categories of pre-flop 3-bets:
- A Value 3-bet: This is when you possess a strong hand and wish to increase the pot size in order to capitalize on value. Raising with AA before the flop serves as the classic illustration.
- A 3-bet Bluff: This is the scenario where you hold a weaker or speculative hand and intend to convince your opponent to fold either immediately or later on. This complex maneuver is where many players tend to misstep.
Naturally, 3-bet bluffs entail significantly more risk than value 3-bets. While the excitement factor is high, many players are deterred by the risks involved. However, properly executed 3bet bluffing can introduce a dynamic edge to your gameplay.
It can render you unpredictable, making you consequently more challenging for opponents to assess, and also enable you to assert dominance over other players.
Regrettably, distinguishing between a stellar and a subpar 3-bet can be quite nuanced. Numerous players end up 3-betting in certain situations simply because they observed another player doing something similar.
For self-improvement, consider the saying 'do as I say, not as I do!' to be applicable here.
So How Can I 3bet Better?
The distinctions between a strong and an ineffective 3-bet opportunity can often be quite minor. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend why someone might be 3-betting with K3, 44, or 68 before you blindly replicate their actions. You might find out that their strategy was far from optimal, even if they make it appear appealing.
Let’s explore a few essential considerations.
Your Objective:
The first aspect to take into account before executing a 3-bet is your objective:
- Are you aiming for your opponent to call or to fold in response to your 3-bet?
Take a hand such as 99 when you are on the button, for instance. Against a cut-off raise, those nines could very well be the strongest hand in that moment. However, would your 3-bet here be intended for value or as a bluff? What about with ATo or 77?
Ultimately, much of this depends on the specific opponent you are facing (as we will discuss later). For the time being, it is crucial to have a definitive aim when you opt to 3-bet.
If you're uncertain about your intention—whether to bluff or not—you're likely just clicking buttons!
The Justification:
Justification plays a vital role in assessing a 3-bet bluff.
Emotions can escalate during poker games, and players may feel that their opponents are gaining the upper hand.
Whether this perception is rooted in superior skill or just favorable luck doesn't change much. When tilting , players frequently resort to 3-betting as a reaction to ego or frustration, especially if they consider themselves more skilled than their opponent.
Before you even start analyzing a 3-bet, it's crucial to evaluate whether or not emotional tilt factors into your decision-making. Even if you believe you are unaffected by tilt (let’s be honest, everyone feels it sometimes!), it’s wise to be candid with yourself.
- How well have you been playing?
- Have you just lost a significant pot or called someone names in the chat?
If you notice any signs of tilt, it’s probably wise to treat your decision to 3-bet with caution.
It could very well stem more from frustration than from a strategic mindset.
The Situation:
Disregarding context is a rookie mistake; it may as well be the title of a superhero. Context can be seen as the most vital factor in successful 3-betting.
- Employing the appropriate hand in an unsuitable situation can easily turn a potential profit into a financial loss.
In general, the ideal candidates for 3-bet bluffs are opponents who tend to open up a wide range of hands. The frequency with which they raise indicates a broader, weaker range, creating ample opportunities for them to fold.
- If you observe someone opening hands like A2o, Q5s, and 58o from an early or middle position, it's safe to say they’re a favorable target.
- On the other hand, attempting to bluff 3-bet against players who struggle to fold is often a poor strategy. If your opponent is a notorious flop chaser who never lets go of hands, it’s wiser to scale back on bluffs and broaden your value 3-betting range.
- Hands such as 88s, KQs, and A9s are excellent choices as they dominate many of the A5, QT, and KJ-type hands that are likely to call your 3-bet.
- Additionally, if you notice someone 3-betting with these types of hands, take a moment to consider who initiated the pot. This information can reveal a lot about the quality of the 3-bet and the player making it.
In general, the tighter the opening range of a player, the more you should constrict and refine your own 3-betting range. While this may sound complicated, it essentially means that the stricter a player is, the less you should resort to bluffing them and the tighter your value range should become.
Your Hand Selection:
Choosing your 3-betting hand wisely is paramount. This process mainly hinges on what your ultimate goals are.
However, it’s equally important to note the tendencies of the player you're considering 3-betting. You could inadvertently turn a strong hand into a bluff.
Take pocket tens as an example. Tens can clearly serve as a strong value 3-bet against a player who has an opening range of 30% (tens would hold a 64% advantage). However, they'd only be ahead of a tight opening range of 77+, AJs+, KQs, and AJo+ in the same situation.
Against the latter range, you might face more 4-bets than folds. And when your opponent does call, you might struggle to extract value even if your hand holds up.
Identifying which hands to 3-bet for value is usually straightforward, but the decision-making can be a bit tougher when it comes to bluffing.
Hands like A5o or K3s generally fare better than 33 or J6o because they have the ability to form strong combinations and contain high cards. This characteristic limits or 'blocks' the number of powerful hands your opponents can possess.
For instance, if an ace appears, it decreases the likelihood of your opponent holding pocket aces by 50%. It also trims the combinations of AK, AQ, or AJ from 16 to just 9.
Moreover, since you would need to fold your bluffs in the event of a 4-bet, it’s often strategically wiser to call with a hand like 33 to try and hit a set.
In summary, you'll generally find that the most effective 3-bet bluffs come from hands that:
- You can easily fold to a 4bet.
- Perform decently post-flop and/or provide opportunities for semi-bluffing post-flop.
- Possess potential to develop into a strong hand.
- Have some blocking value.
3bet Sizing:
In cash games, players typically start with a full stack of chips. Thus, pre-flop 3-betting situations tend to be more calculated than in tournament play.
Players often make their 3-bets about three times the size of the original raise. If they're out of position, they might even increase that amount to counteract the pot odds they offer to opponents in position.
You can observe similar patterns in the early and middle stages of poker tournaments as well. When stacks drop to the 15-25bb range, the added pressure from increasing blinds and ICM considerations makes full-commitment all-ins as a 3-bet significantly more appealing.
- However, keep in mind that there are no rigid rules governing sizing. If you're 3-betting against a calling station for value, it might make sense to adjust your 3-bet size upward to extract more chips.
- This guide is designed to help you improve your 3betting skills so that you can maximize your potential. By going through this process, you'll learn how to evaluate your 3bet strategy and implement it more effectively.
Here’s what you need to do to enhance your 3betting!
If I Had A Hammer…
It's hard to ignore the fact that everywhere you turn, people are obsessively keeping up with the latest style trends. They've taken to filming pointless TikTok dances and spreading whatever memes have gained popularity recently.
- Could our constant craving for attention be a sign of something deeper?
- The truth is, imitating others is a natural part of being human. Confucius noted that this is one of the fundamental ways through which we learn. Additionally, we are inherently social beings who crave acceptance from those around us.
- Consequently, our motivation to imitate can often be as simplistic as wanting to do what everyone else is doing. As philosopher Eric Hoffer pointed out, 'When individuals are free to act on their own, they tend to mimic each other.'
- Most of us probably started our journeys in poker by mimicking others. Perhaps you were influenced by a poker match you watched on television or by friends who were already playing – it’s just another form of imitation, right?
Good luck.