Betting actions
3-bet in poker
Definition
The second raise before the flop: the big blind counts as the first bet, the open-raise as the second and the re-raise as the third.
A 3-bet puts pressure on the open-raiser, who must fold, call or 4-bet. Players 3-bet for value with strong hands and as a bluff with hands that block strong holdings, such as ace-five suited.
A balanced 3-bet range contains both value hands and bluffs, so opponents cannot just fold or just call.
Example
A raises to 3, B re-raises to 9: B has made a 3-bet.
Related terms
- 4-betA re-raise of a 3-bet before the flop, the fourth wager in the sequence.
- Open-raiseThe first raise before the flop, made when nobody else has raised yet.
- SqueezeA 3-bet made after one player raised and at least one other player called, squeezing both of them.
- Continuation bet (c-bet)A bet on the flop by the player who raised before the flop, continuing the initiative whether or not the flop helped.