With the added obstacle of opposition, there are few online casino games that require as much strategy as poker. And to make the best decision possible, players must analyze their hand against the community cards and their opponents. Knowing when to fold and when to be aggressive is a vital component of becoming an effective player. Sometimes folding a medium-to-strong hand is your best bet, otherwise you risk losing big, tilting and crashing out of the game early.
The key to knowing when to implement the strategy is understanding your opponents’ playing styles. For instance, if you’re going head-to-head against a player who regularly folds, it suggests they only bet when holding a strong hand. So, if you don’t have the nut hand, it may be wise to fold. Utilizing 3-betting is brilliant for reading your opponents and thinning out the competition, especially during online poker tournaments, where you can face upwards of 100 players. Read on to learn how to master the 3-bet strategy.
The Ins and Outs of 3-Betting
Before diving into the complexities, it’s worth knowing what a 3-bet is. Simply put, it’s the act of re-raising an opponent’s raise. Used extensively in online poker, it’s an aggressive strategy where timing is everything. Below showcases why and when you should utilize it and how much you should stake.
Why Use 3-Betting
There are several reasons why a professional player will opt for a 3-bet strategy. Firstly, it’s an effective way to maximize the pot and narrow out the competition – the fewer competitors you face, the higher your chances of winning are.
Then there are its bluffing advantages. Whether you’re bluffing or semi-bluffing, 3-betting is a great way to make your opponents perceive you to have a strong hand and fold (even when they’re holding a stronger hand,) making it a great option for stealing the pot. This is the result of applying pressure and forcing opponents to make mistakes and out-of-character bets.
Furthermore, it’s an efficient way to read your opponents and gauge if your hand has a chance of winning. For example, if you’re bluffing and decide to re-raise, and someone calls, it’s a good indicator that they’re confident in their hand. So, from the information gathered, it may be best to count your losses and fold.
Lastly, experienced players use it to isolate weak players and exploit them. Traditionally, novices are more likely to call 3-bets as they often lack the knowledge of knowing when to fold and tend to play until the end, even when they’re holding weak hands. Whereas there’s a higher probability that good players will fold to avoid a heavy defeat.
When To Use 3-Betting
When playing online poker for real money, the main use of a 3-bet is to build or steal the pot. So, regarding the best time to steal the pot, it’s during the preflop. Why? Because without seeing the community cards, most players won’t want to stake high so early. And in terms of building the pot, implement it after the flop, as players are more prone to call because they’re already invested and sometimes believe they have the hand to win.
Another good moment to use a 3-bet is when you’re holding a deep stack against players with considerably fewer chips. In this scenario, you hold the betting power and those with a low number of chips will often be forced to fold, as they’re risking too much of their stack.
Other notable moments for using the strategy are when you’re head-to-head against aggressive players who incorporate a wide range of hands in their game; a 3-bet can allow you to exploit their loose play. For beginners, it’s important to understand that playing a 3-bet doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to win. You have to consider several factors before playing it, such as the playing personalities of your opponents still active, your bankroll and positioning, as well as the texture of your board compared to the cards in your hand. Without gathering intel, you risk emulating the likes of Phil Hellmuth and Shaun Deeb, two of the game’s top tilting players.
For example, using five-card draw poker as an example, if you’re dealt a 2, 5, 6, jack or ace, most professional players would recommend that, because your hand is spread out, there’s a good chance someone else has a far stronger hand, meaning it’s a good time to fold rather than pursuing a 3-bet.
How Much To Stake
During poker tournaments (and regular games,) the amount you stake should be influenced by the reasoning behind your bet. For instance, if you’re bluffing, the higher, the better. Make sure you raise the initial bet by at least four times its value. However, be mindful of the community cards and players still active, as an opponent may call you.
Another 3-bet scenario is when players are wanting to add value to the pot. In this instance, players generally increase the raise by around two to four times the amount in a bid to keep players interested and not scare them off. However, be sure to analyze your opponents’ stack sizes. For example, if you’re head-to-head against someone with low chips, they’re less likely to call a bet three times the amount of their raise.
The Two Types of 3-Bets
- Value 3-Bet: This is when a player holds a strong hand – such as connected suiters or strong pocket pairs (ace–ace) – and wants to maximize the pot.
- Bluff 3-Bet: A bluff 3-bet occurs when a player holding a weak hand wants to steal the pot by making their competitors fold.
How Can I Balance My Range?
If you’re wondering how to play poker effectively by using strategy, maintaining a balance in your range is crucial. This means not repeating betting patterns, such as only utilizing a value 3-bet.
Rather, mix up your 3-bets with a combination of value and bluff 3-bets to keep your opponents guessing. And make sure you implement other moves as well. Otherwise, you risk becoming predictable and your strategies becoming ineffective as players know when to fold or call your bets, suggesting your chances of building or stealing the pot become far less.
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And if you’re taking a break from the felt, there’s an endless array of casino games to choose from, such as blackjack, online slots, roulette and bingo.