Have you ever found yourself feeling uneasy because the players sitting to our left are persistently applying pressure? 3betting Should we retaliate and take a stand? How do we determine the optimal moment to do so?
Increasing the frequency of our calls against 3bets might complicate matters further if we're uncertain about how to proceed after the flop.
So, what’s the way forward? Familiarizing ourselves with some core theory can tremendously increase our confidence when confronted with 3bets.
Let's explore the essential principles that guide our defense against 3bet situations.
Fundamental Guidelines for Defending Against 3bets
#1 Aim to fold between 50 and 60% of the time when confronted with a 3bet.
This guideline isn't a strict rule; it varies depending on the size of the 3bet. In particular scenarios, we may find ourselves folding less than 50%, while in others, we might need to fold more than 60%.
The main point to remember is that, in general, we should be willing to fold most often when encountering a 3bet . This approach helps alleviate a lot of pressure.
We might instinctively think that folding more than 50% of the time against 3bets gives our opponent too much of an edge. However, that perception is misleading.
We are expected to fold frequently, especially when facing substantial 3bets.
#2 Fold more vs large 3bets
Against very large 3bets , we should be folding more than 60% of the time. (Consider a situation with a 13bb 3bet against a 2.5bb open.)
In the case of medium-sized 3bets , aiming to fold around 50% of the time is advisable. (For instance, a 9bb 3bet following a 2.5bb open.)
For smaller 3bets , it is wise to fold less than 50% of the time. (Think of a 7bb 3bet or smaller.)
It’s suggested to defend 100% of the time against a min-3bet (5bb when faced with a 3bb open).
Here’s a table to visualize this information -
| 3bet Sizing | Rough Folding Frequency |
| Large e.g., 12bb vs 2.5bb open-raise | 60% |
| Medium e.g., 9bb vs 3bb open-raise | 50% |
| Small e.g., 7bb vs 2.5bb open-raise | 40% |
| Min e.g., 4bb 3bet vs a 1.5bb open-raise | 0% |
In modern poker, large 3bets are becoming increasingly prevalent, partly due to a rise in their popularity. poker solvers Facing substantial 3bets may seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be that way.
In fact, we should be ready to fold often when faced with large 3bets. Our opponent is more likely to lose when we hold a strong hand and can make a counter.
#3 4bet a selection of strong value hands and high-equity semi-bluffs.
A typical button 4bet range will include the following hands –
- JJ+
- AQs for value
- Holdings such as Axs, K5s
- AJo in the semi-bluffing range.
Some poker enthusiasts refer to this as a polarized range; however, it doesn’t reflect true polarization in the same context as river betting ranges should.
Typically, the most effective semi-bluff 4bets consist of at least one high card. Therefore, premium hands like AA, KK, and AK are less likely for our opponent to hold due to card removal effects.
#4 Calling becomes less appealing when we’re out of position.
When defending against a 3bet while out of position, calling isn’t as advantageous.
Although we still require a calling range, we should generally lean towards folding more frequently .
We must incorporate a larger proportion of our defenses as 4bets compared to our strategy when in position.
An example will illustrate this as we review typical defending ranges.
#5 We should tighten our defense when facing 3bets after our early position opens.
Our opponents are likely to 3bet with a stronger hand range against our opening bets. Thus, our range should reflect that strength. early-position While we adopt a tighter range for defense, it doesn’t necessarily translate to more frequent folds. After all, our early position opens should consist of a tighter hand selection.
Therefore, we tend to fold to 3bets with a similar frequency, regardless of our opening position.
Let's examine some typical defending ranges against 3bets from various positions.
Sample Defending Ranges
Our objective is to understand how these defending ranges are structured rather than memorize specific hand selections. We could encounter numerous preflop situations, each slightly different.
In our first example, we assume an open raise of 2.5bb from the button and an 11bb 3bet from the big blind.
BTN vs BB
Hands like JJ+, AK are robust enough to warrant a 4bet for value. However, it's important to note that JJ, QQ, and AKo may still be called with some regularity, as we require stronger hands included in our calling range.
Chart legend: orange is 4bet, green is call, blue is fold
Our 4bet range features a blend of Axs, Kxs, Qxs, and suited connectors/gappers, which we will refer to as the
It’s crucial to recognize that none of the 4bet semi-bluffs are pure 4bets. Most are integrated into the 4bet range infrequently—either called or folded otherwise. semi-bluffs .
The expected value (EV) of these 4bet semi-bluffs hovers very close to zero. Their main function is to add balance to our range and deter our opponent from folding too tightly against our 4bet.
These hands don’t yield a profit and aren't particularly vital when up against weaker players.
In our second example, we consider a 3bb open from the small blind and a 9bb 3bet from the big blind.
SB vs BB
Given the decent odds for calling, we should aim to fold approximately 50% of the time when met with the 3bet.
Flat calling loses appeal due to our out-of-position status.
Chart legend: orange is 4bet, green is call, blue is fold
Among all defending hands, 34% are 4bets. In the btn vs bb setup, just 23.6% of the continuing range consists of 4bets. However, flat calling remains our primary defensive tactic.
Nevertheless, hands that are close should be more inclined to 4bet when out of position. A straightforward illustration would be TT, which usually calls as btn vs bb but tends to 4bet as sb vs bb.
Beyond these minor variations, the overall defending strategy remains consistent. Axs, Kxs, and AJo/ATo continue to be our optimal choices for semi-bluffing along with some
In our third scenario, we consider a 2.5bb open raise from early position followed by a 10bb 3bet from the big blind. suited connectors in the mix.
UTG vs BB
This defending range should be notably tighter since our opponent will 3bet with a stronger range against early position opens.
Chart legend: orange is 4bet, green is call, blue is fold
In this case, our 4bet value hands are limited to KK and AA. AKs/AKo's expected value is low enough that we should regard them as semi-bluffs instead of actual value hands.
While ATs+/KTs+ and 22-TT are classified as defenses, their expected value is quite minimal. These hands tend to be played, meaning we won't have an excessively high folding rate. value hands.
We've observed A3-A5s and KTs/KJs serving as 4bet semi-bluffs. However, suited Qx or suited connectors have become less frequent.
JJ+, AQs, and AKo are the sole hands that yield an EV greater than 1bb throughout the entire range, as indicated by the solver.
In our final example, we assume a 2.5bb open from early position and a 7.5bb 3bet from the button. Though the 3bet size appears minor, it’s quite standard for players to reduce their 3bet size when acting from position.
UTG vs BTN
Our defending range remains quite comparable to the previous one. However, we employ a notably more aggressive 4bet strategy due to our out-of-position stance.
Chart legend: orange is 4bet, green is call, blue is fold
In this model, we find ourselves 4betting nearly 50% of the time during our defenses. This strategy represents the main deviation from our 3bet defensive approach.
Similar to the UTG vs BB situation, only hands generating an EV larger than 1bb are JJ+, AQs, and AKo.
Exploitative Considerations When Defending Against 3bets
The sample ranges are fairly close to theoretical (GTO) accuracy. However, they may not provide the most effective strategy against every opponent or even the majority of them.
#1 If our opponent is folding excessively to 4bets
Pay attention to the following for exploitative opportunities:
In theory, an opponent should fold less than 40% of the time in many scenarios when facing a 4bet. If our opponent folds more frequently, then the EV of our semi-bluff 4bets becomes more favorable.
We can profitably 4bet such hands each time we get 3bet, rather than pushing our semi-bluff holdings sporadically.
Should our opponent be folding 60% of the time in response to a 4bet, we can bluff with any two cards profitably, even if we consistently give up.
Our opponent should typically be in the 3bet range of 8% to 10% of the time. postflop when called.
#2 Our opponent is 3betting too tight
On average in poker Despite this, many players tend to underutilize the 3bet. The average preflop 3bet frequency often lands around closer to 7%.
Moreover, exceptionally tight players, in most player groups, may 3bet less than 6% of the time.
Defending with the breadth of our sample ranges against such players would be a misstep. The most effective exploitative response is to fold a significant amount when our opponent largely 3bets premium hands, unless we're also dealt one ourselves.
#3 Our opponent is applying 3bets too frequently
Encountering overly aggressive 3bettors can be a challenging situation for many players. .
Understanding the theory behind defending against 3-bets can significantly enhance our self-assurance in these situations. Let's examine some fundamental concepts for our defense strategy.
Achieving an Effective Defense Against 3-bets at 888 Poker Online
Have you ever found yourself feeling uneasy when players seated to your left are persistently putting in 3-bets? Should we retaliate and assert ourselves? How do we determine the proper timing for that?
Frequently calling against 3-bets can create more trouble, especially when we lack clarity on how to navigate the post-flop play. wide range .
So, what’s the answer? Gaining insight into the underlying theory can greatly improve our confidence when dealing with 3-bets.
It depends on their playing style -
- Let’s explore some essential strategies for defending against 3-bets.
- Fundamental Strategies for Defending Against 3-bets
Final Pointers
#1 Aim to fold between 50% and 60% when confronted with a 3-bet.
Keep in mind that this guideline isn’t absolute. The appropriate fold percentage varies based on the size of the 3-bet. In certain contexts, we might find ourselves folding less than 50%, whereas in others, over 60% may be necessary.
The takeaway is clear: generally speaking, we should fold more often than not when facing a 3-bet . This approach alleviates much of the stress involved. 3bet pots .
It's natural to worry that folding more than half the time against 3-bets gives our opponents an upper hand, but this isn’t the case.