Poker Pros Debate Best Hands for 3-Bet Scenarios

The poker community was abuzz with a lively discussion started by Phil Galfond on the 2+2 forum around four years ago. The topic? The best hands to play in a 3-bet scenario. The debate involved some of the biggest names in poker, each offering their unique perspectives.

Phil Galfond's original post, available here, set the stage for a detailed analysis of four hands: KJo, 75s, 88, and A2s. Players were asked to rank these hands in order of preference and justify their choices.

King_of_drafts kicked off the discussion by preferring 75s, followed by A2s, KJo, and 88. He argued that 75s is easier to play with bet/col or bet/fold on the flop. John 'jsnipes28' Snape, on the other hand, favored KJo for shorter tables with higher aggression, noting that it's easier to catch a pair and go all-in. Triumph36 had a different take, placing 88 at the top, followed by 75s, A2s, and KJo. He questioned how often 75s would hit a flop where bet/col is viable.