Three Betting Light - How To Reraise Profitably At The Poker Table
Three betting has become more and more popular in recent years. It might sound like a fancy jargon term, but really it just means reraising an opening bet. The blind is the first bet, the open is the second, so the next raise is the "three bet".
Three betting is traditionally a show of strength. As the modern game has become more and more aggressive however, players have found that three betting "light", with a less than premium hand, can be very profitable in the right situation. Typically a play made against a late position opener, or a loose opponent, who is likely to be opening a wide range, the light three bet is likely to induce a fold a good proportion of the time.
Three betting light is also used to balance your range. If you only ever reraise with a premium hand you become very predictable, and exploitable. By mixing things up and reraising with speculative hands you become much harder to read and play against.
You do have to pick the right spots for a profitable three bet. Ideally you will be reraising a fairly loose opponent, and one who you believe is capable of folding a strong (but not monster) hand. Ideally they will be opening from late position, which widens their range, and you'll be holding a hand which has some value should you get called - suited connectors and small pairs are ideal.
But what to do when an opponent behind you keeps raising your opens? Well in that situation, take it a step further and start four betting! If they are raising you too often then either they are getting an incredible run of premium hands, or they are making plays. Since it's so unlikely that they are getting dealt kings and aces every hand, you know that they will be raising a very wide range, and will have no choice but to fold to your four bets.
3 betting, and 4 betting light at the right time can be a powerful weapon in your arsenal of poker moves. Don't over do it, or players will quickly adjust and take advantage, but get the balance just right and you'll steal more than your fair share of pots!
Three betting is traditionally a show of strength. As the modern game has become more and more aggressive however, players have found that three betting "light", with a less than premium hand, can be very profitable in the right situation. Typically a play made against a late position opener, or a loose opponent, who is likely to be opening a wide range, the light three bet is likely to induce a fold a good proportion of the time.
Three betting light is also used to balance your range. If you only ever reraise with a premium hand you become very predictable, and exploitable. By mixing things up and reraising with speculative hands you become much harder to read and play against.
You do have to pick the right spots for a profitable three bet. Ideally you will be reraising a fairly loose opponent, and one who you believe is capable of folding a strong (but not monster) hand. Ideally they will be opening from late position, which widens their range, and you'll be holding a hand which has some value should you get called - suited connectors and small pairs are ideal.
But what to do when an opponent behind you keeps raising your opens? Well in that situation, take it a step further and start four betting! If they are raising you too often then either they are getting an incredible run of premium hands, or they are making plays. Since it's so unlikely that they are getting dealt kings and aces every hand, you know that they will be raising a very wide range, and will have no choice but to fold to your four bets.
3 betting, and 4 betting light at the right time can be a powerful weapon in your arsenal of poker moves. Don't over do it, or players will quickly adjust and take advantage, but get the balance just right and you'll steal more than your fair share of pots!
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