3 Bet Strategy

This advice was written for 200NL or lower 6Max games. It applies when effective stacks are 80-125BB preflop. Please deviate from this strategy as necessary when you have either developed good reads or know your opponent has certain assumptions about the way you play.

Continuation bets should be anywhere from 2/3-3/4PSB, depending on what sizing is best for getting all in on the turn. As a note, if you feel you are better at playing after the flop than your opponent, 3betting to a smaller size preflop and making a smaller c-bet on the flop is a good way to set the hand up to play 3 streets, allowing you the greatest opportunity to exercise your skill advantage.

The Rules

1). If an Ace/King hits the flop, bet nearly 100% of the time, regardless of position. These flop types are highly polarized (a.k.a. "hit or miss") and your opponents aren’t going to be calling/raising your flop bets lightly. The other good polarized flop texture to bet on is when the flop comes all of the same suit.

2). If your hand is as strong as a pair of Kings or better, bet/call the flop.

Note: Pair + draw hands are considered as strong as a pair of Kings or better in a reraised pot. Nut flush draws are also considered as strong as a pair of Kings or better

The Flop

Out of Position…

1). 2-2 – 9-9 or suited connectors, check/fold.

2). K-xs/A-xs, bet/fold if you have a backdoor straight, backdoor flush draw, or a gutshot. Otherwise, check/fold.

3). A-10 – A-Q, bet/fold.

However if you flop a pair of Tens, Jacks, or Queens AND it is top pair, check/call flop and check/fold turn.

4). A-K, bet/fold.

5). 10-10 – Q-Q, check/call x-x-x flops and check/fold the turn unimproved.

Also check/fold (A/K)-x-x flop. The reason not to bet Ace/King high flops with these pairs is because our hand has a lot of showdown value if our opponent doesn’t have an Ace/King. It also helps to lower our c-bet frequency from ~100% on those flop types.

6). K-K+, bet/call.

If you flop a weak draw (7 outs or less), alternate between check/folding and check/raising all in depending on your table image. Bet/fold a blank turn if the flop is checked around.

In Position…

1). 2-2 – 7-7 or suited connectors, check behind.

2). K-xs/A-xs, bet/fold if you have a backdoor straight, flush draw, or a gutshot. Otherwise, check behind.

3). A-K, bet/fold.

4). K-K+, bet/call.

Check behind on the flop if you are holding a draw with 7 outs or less. Fold to a turn bet unimproved, bet if checked to.

Turn/River Play:

If your hand is…

– Worse than a pair of Kings, you are generally finished betting or calling bets.

– A pair of Kings and an Ace comes on the turn, you are generally finished betting or calling bets.

– A pair of Aces, two pair, or a set and an Ace comes on the turn, check/raise all in. If a straight or flush completes, you are generally finished betting or calling bets.

– A straight/flush and an Ace comes on the turn, check/raise all in. If a flush completes and you are holding a straight, you are generally finished betting or calling bets.

– A pair of Kings or better and a non scare card comes on the turn, go all in.

Extra:

– Monotone flops are great to stab at since they are a good hit/miss flop type, but they are not good to float on. If you have an overpair (smaller than Q-Q) on a monotone flop and are faced with a bet, folding is generally your best option.

– Slowplaying on occasion is necessary to help balance the range of hands that you will check with on the flop.