The Complete 3-Bet Strategy: Sizing, Ranges & Defense
Master the art of 3-betting — build polarized and linear ranges, choose optimal sizings, and learn how to defend when facing a 3-bet.
Beyond the Basics: 3-Betting as a Strategic Weapon
If you landed here looking for definitions, mechanics, and the basic rationale for re-raising preflop, you should start with our companion piece what is a 3-bet. That article walks through terminology, pot odds, the difference between IP and OOP raises, and the mental model of "raise on top of a raise."
This guide assumes you already own that foundation. We are going to live inside the strategic guts of 3-betting: sizing math by exact stack depth, range construction frameworks (polarized, linear, merged), full hand-class ranges by position, the squeeze 3-bet, the 4-bet defense decision tree, and the postflop SPR consequences that should drive every preflop sizing choice. By the end you will have a complete blueprint that mirrors what a serious DEEPFOLD user uses when reviewing hands inside the trainer.
A 3-bet is a chain: sizing → range → 4-bet defense → postflop SPR. Win the chain, win the pot.
3-Bet Sizing Math: The Geometry of the Pot
Sizing is the most under-studied part of 3-betting at low and mid stakes. Players grab a "default" multiplier from a video and never check whether that size matches their range, the opener's tendency, or the resulting SPR. Let us correct that.
The IP Formula: 3x the Open
When you are in position (BTN vs CO open, or CO vs UTG open in some game flows), the canonical 3-bet is 3x the open.
Math: Opener raises to 2.5bb. You 3-bet to 7.5bb. Pot after fold-throughs: 2.5 + 7.5 + 1 (BB) + 0.5 (SB) = 11.5bb. If opener calls, the pot is 16.5bb and you are still 92.5bb deep — SPR ≈ 5.6 on the flop.
That SPR of 5–6 is the magic number for IP 3-bet pots. It allows you to c-bet small (25–33%) on dry boards, double-barrel on most turns, and still have a clean shove on rivers. If your sizing creates SPR > 7, your value hands lose stack-off threat. If SPR < 4, your bluffs cannot fold opener off marginal pairs.
The OOP Formula: 4x the Open
Out of position, the cost of being bluff-3-bet is higher (you lose initiative on every street), and your realization is worse. To compensate, charge a tax: 4x the open.
Math: Opener raises to 2.5bb from BTN. You (BB) 3-bet to 10bb (already 1bb posted, so you only put in 9bb more). Pot if opener calls: 21bb. You are 90bb behind — SPR ≈ 4.3.
A lower SPR is exactly what an OOP 3-bettor wants. It means c-bet → turn bet → river jam is a clean three-street stack-off line with top-pair-good-kicker. Compare that to flatting OOP at SPR 13: you cannot stack a worse hand without a near-miracle runout.
Stack Depth Corrections
The 3x / 4x defaults assume 100bb. Below 50bb, the 3-bet collapses into a re-jam zone:
| Stack Depth | Recommended 3-Bet Style | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 200bb | 3.5x IP / 4.5x OOP (preserve SPR ~6) | Avoid playing huge SPRs with one pair |
| 100bb | 3x IP / 4x OOP | Standard cash-game default |
| 60bb | 2.8x IP / 3.5x OOP (smaller, build less) | Keep room for postflop maneuvering |
| 40bb | 3-bet to 25–30% of stack | Half-pot c-bet commits; trim 4-bet bluffs |
| 25bb | Re-jam range only (no flat 3-bets) | SPR after 3-bet < 1; just shove |
| 15bb | Open-jam / call-jam, never 3-bet small | No fold equity post-3-bet |
Sizing by Position × Stack Depth × Opener Position
This is the table I want you to bookmark. It is the lookup most students never build for themselves.
| Your Position | Opener Position | 100bb IP/OOP | 60bb IP/OOP | 40bb IP/OOP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTN | UTG (2.3bb) | IP — 7.5bb | IP — 6.5bb | IP — 25% stack |
| BTN | CO (2.5bb) | IP — 7.5–8bb | IP — 7bb | IP — 28% stack |
| SB | BTN (2.5bb) | OOP — 11–12bb | OOP — 9bb | OOP — re-jam |
| SB | UTG (2.3bb) | OOP — 10.5bb | OOP — 8.5bb | OOP — re-jam |
| BB | BTN (2.5bb) | OOP — 10–11bb | OOP — 8.5bb | OOP — re-jam |
| BB | SB (3bb) | OOP — 12bb | OOP — 10bb | OOP — re-jam |
| CO | UTG (2.3bb) | IP — 7bb | IP — 6bb | IP — 25% stack |
| HJ | UTG (2.3bb) | IP — 7bb | IP — 6bb | IP — 25% stack |
Polarized vs Linear vs Merged: The Range Construction Debate
Sizing is half the picture. The other half is what hands you put in the 3-bet box. There are three legitimate constructions, and the correct one depends almost entirely on opponent fold-to-3-bet (F3B) frequency.
| Construction | Composition | Use When Opener's F3B Is | Bluff:Value Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polarized | Top value (QQ+, AK) + low-equity blockers (A5s–A2s, K5s) | 55%+ | ~1 : 1 |
| Linear | Top of range, no bluffs (TT+, AQ+, KQs, sometimes JJ+) | < 40% | 0 : 1 |
| Merged | Top value + medium-strong hands (TT+, AJs+, KQs) — no junk | 40–55% (and calls light) | ~0.3 : 1 |
Why Polarized Works at Equilibrium
A polarized 3-bet works because villain's defense splits naturally into "fold trash, call medium, 4-bet premium." When you bluff with A5s, you simultaneously:
- Block AA, AK (the hands that 4-bet you).
- Have a backup plan postflop (nut flush draws, wheel straights, top-pair on A-high).
- Have terrible flat-call equity vs UTG range — so you turn a marginal flat into a +EV 3-bet.
That last point is the key insight. A5s is not a great flatting hand vs UTG, because it gets dominated by AT+, plays poorly multiway, and rarely wins a stack. As a 3-bet bluff with blocker properties, it converts into a +EV play.
Why "Random Suited Aces" Are NOT All Equal
Beginners read "use suited aces as 3-bet bluffs" and lump A8s, A7s, A5s, A4s, A3s together. They are not equivalent. Here is the hierarchy:
- A5s, A4s, A3s — best blockers (block AA, AK) and make wheel straights. Top-tier 3-bet bluffs.
- A2s — same blocker effect, but no wheel synergy with A5s and slightly worse straight equity.
- A6s, A7s, A8s — block AA and AK, but make worse straights and worse two-pair value. Use as occasional bluffs, not a default.
- A9s, ATs — too strong to bluff, too weak to value-3-bet vs tight ranges. Usually flat or fold by position.
When to Switch to Linear
If your HUD shows opener's F3B is 32% and they call 3-bets 50%+, you have a calling station. Drop every bluff. Switch to linear: TT+, AQs+, AKo, KQs. You print money against their wide call range with raw equity, and you save 3-bet dollars from getting bled by station defense.
Merged: The Hybrid
Merged ranges (TT+, AJs+, KQs without A5s/A4s) are correct against opponents who fold a moderate amount preflop but call too lightly with weak top-pair postflop. You do not need bluffs because villain hands you their stack on QQ-good board. You add medium hands like AJs because they get value from A-x calls.
Full Solver-Baseline 3-Bet Ranges by Position
The following ranges assume 100bb, 6-max cash, GTO+/GTO Wizard solver outputs as a baseline. Real-world adjustments come after.
BTN vs CO Open
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| 3-bet | QQ+, AKs, AKo, AQs (mixed), A5s, A4s, KQs (mixed), 76s (mixed) |
| Flat | 99–JJ, AQo, AJs, ATs, KQo, KJs, QJs, JTs, T9s, 89s, 78s, suited connectors, small pairs |
| Fold | Offsuit junk |
Total 3-bet frequency: ~6.5%. Bluff-to-value ratio ≈ 1 : 1.
SB vs BTN Open
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| 3-bet (4x+) | TT+, AJs+, AKo, KQs, A5s, A4s, A3s, KJs (mixed) |
| Flat (rare) | Almost nothing — SB has no isolation incentive |
| Fold | Everything else |
Total 3-bet frequency: ~9–10%. SB plays almost zero flatting range; either 3-bet or fold.
BB vs BTN Open
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| 3-bet | TT+, AJs+, AKo, KQs, KJs (mixed), A5s, A4s, A3s, 76s (mixed) |
| Flat | 22–99, ATs, A9s–A2s offsuit (mixed), KTs, QJs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s (most), 65s, K9s, Q9s |
| Fold | Worst offsuit junk |
Total 3-bet frequency: ~12% (BB defends ~50% total).
BB vs SB Open
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| 3-bet | 88+, ATs+, AJo+, KTs+, KQo, QTs+, JTs, T9s, 76s (mixed), A5s, A4s |
| Flat | 22–77, A2s–A9s, KJo, K9s, QJo, Q9s, all suited connectors |
| Fold | Offsuit garbage |
Total 3-bet frequency: ~17%. BB has positional advantage post-flop vs SB and a juicy 3-to-1 pot-odds proposition, so the range is wide.
Vs UTG Open (any position)
| Position vs UTG | 3-bet Range |
|---|---|
| HJ | KK+, AKs, AKo, A5s (mixed) |
| CO | QQ+, AKs, AKo, AQs (mixed), A5s (mixed) |
| BTN | QQ+, AKs, AKo, AQs (mixed), KQs (mixed), A5s, A4s |
| SB | TT+, AQs+, AKo, KQs (mixed), A5s, A4s |
| BB | JJ+, AQs+, AKo, KQs, A5s, A4s, A3s |
UTG opens tight (~14%), so the entire table stays disciplined. Most bluffs are A5s/A4s blockers. Linear constructions (no bluffs) are also acceptable vs typical UTG nits.
Facing a 3-Bet: The Defense Decision Tree
You opened CO 2.5bb. BTN 3-bets to 7.5bb. You face a decision tree with three branches.
The 30 / 5–8 / 50–55 Rule
A solver-aligned defense vs an in-position 3-bet roughly distributes:
- Fold ~50–55% of your opening range
- Call ~30–40%
- 4-bet ~5–8% (mix of value and bluffs)
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| 4-bet value | KK+, AKs (mixed), AKo (mixed) |
| 4-bet bluff | A5s, A4s (block QQ+, AK) |
| Call | QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AQs, AJs, KQs, KJs, QJs, JTs, T9s, 77, 66 |
| Fold | Marginal offsuit broadways, low pairs without IO, weak suited gappers |
4-Bet Sizing Math
Standard 4-bet: 2.2–2.5x the 3-bet size when IP, 2.5–3x when OOP.
Math: You opened CO to 2.5bb. BTN 3-bet to 7.5bb. You 4-bet to 18bb (2.4x). After call: pot ≈ 38bb. Behind: 82bb. SPR ≈ 2.2 — meaning a single half-pot c-bet practically commits you. That is exactly the structure you want with KK / AK.
The 4-bet bluff with A4s uses identical sizing. You only need it to work ~52% of the time at 2.4x to break even ignoring postflop equity, and A4s has 30%+ raw equity vs the call range when called, so the threshold to print is even lower.
Calibrating by Opener Tendency
| 3-Bettor Type | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Tight (F3B 7%) | Fold more — only call with TT+, AQs+, AK; drop 4-bet bluffs |
| Standard (10%) | Use the 30 / 5–8 / 50–55 split above |
| Aggressive (15%+) | Add 4-bet bluffs (A5s, A4s, KJs sometimes); call wider with suited broadways |
| Maniac (20%+) | 4-bet for value with QQ+, AK; flat AQs, AJs to trap; let villain barrel into your range |
The Squeeze 3-Bet: Wider, Bigger, Better
A squeeze is a 3-bet over an open AND a caller. Two reasons it should be wider than a standard 3-bet:
- Dead money is in the pot. If BTN opens 2.5 and CO calls 2.5, the pot is 6.5bb (with blinds). Your 3-bet to 12bb risks 12 to win 6.5 — better immediate odds than against a single opener.
- Caller's range is capped. Anyone who flats instead of 3-betting almost never has KK+ / AK. So when villain folds, the squeeze applies maximum pressure on the weakest segment of two ranges simultaneously.
Squeeze sizing rule: 3.5x the open IP, 5x OOP. If opener was 2.5bb and CO called, squeeze to 12–13bb IP, 14–15bb OOP.
Squeeze range from SB after BTN open + CO call:
| Action | Hand Class |
|---|---|
| Squeeze | 99+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs, A5s, A4s, A3s, KJs, QJs (mixed) |
| Fold | Everything else (no flatting — you are squeezed between two players) |
Total squeeze frequency: ~9–11%. Wider than a standard SB-vs-BTN 3-bet because of dead money and capped ranges.
Stack Depth Adjustments in Practice
40bb (Short Cash / Mid-MTT)
Compress to a shove range post-3-bet. If you 3-bet to 30% of stack and get 4-bet, you cannot fold profitably. So your "3-bet" is really a "3-bet/all-in" range:
| Hand Class | Action |
|---|---|
| QQ+, AKs, AKo | 3-bet/call all 4-bets |
| JJ, TT, AQs | 3-bet/call most 4-bets |
| A5s, A4s | Cut from range — no equity to call a 4-bet shove |
| 99, 88, KQs | Flat instead of 3-bet |
200bb (Deep Cash)
Larger 3-bet sizes are required to maintain workable SPR. A 3x 3-bet at 200bb leaves SPR ≈ 12 — disastrous for one-pair hands.
Math: 200bb deep, opener 2.5bb. You 3-bet 3.5x to 8.75bb. Call → pot ≈ 19bb, behind ≈ 191bb, SPR ≈ 10. Even 3.5x is too small at 200bb. Bump to 4x IP / 5x OOP to keep SPR at ~7.
Deep stacks also reward adding suited connectors (87s, 76s) to your value-light flatting range, since implied odds explode. Your 3-bet range stays roughly the same in composition but bigger in absolute size.
Opponent Type Adjustments
| Opponent Type | Bluff 3-Bets | Value 3-Bets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tight passive (F3B 70%+) | Add aggressively (suited Ax, K-blockers) | Standard | Print on fold equity alone |
| Standard reg (F3B 50%) | A5s, A4s only | Standard | Solver-baseline polarized |
| Aggressive 4-bettor | Drop bluffs entirely | Tight (KK+, AK) | Flat AQs/AJs; let them spew into your 4-bet trap |
| Calling station (F3B 25%) | Zero bluffs | Linear (TT+, AQ+, KQs) | Win postflop with raw equity, never bluff |
| Maniac (3-bets back wide) | Almost none — flat to trap | Tighten to QQ+, AK | Slow-play premiums; let them hang themselves |
Postflop Dynamics in 3-Bet Pots
A 3-bet pot has SPR 4–6 (IP) or 3–4 (OOP). Compare to a single-raised pot at SPR 9–11. The smaller SPR fundamentally changes c-bet decisions.
Key principles:
- C-bet small or jam — half-pot is rarely correct. Either 25–33% (range bet on dry boards) or 65–75% (commitment bet on wet boards).
- Top-pair-good-kicker is a stack-off hand. At SPR 5, AKo on K72r is going three streets for value. In a single-raised pot, the same hand pot-controls turn.
- Bluff selectivity matters. With A4s as a 3-bet bluff, you c-bet A-high boards and broadway-A boards. On dry low boards (732r), check back IP and check-fold OOP — your range is too capped for a bluff to be believed.
- Position swings harder in 3-bet pots. OOP realization in a 3-bet pot drops to ~80%; IP realization climbs to ~110%. Tighten OOP, expand IP.
Five Worked Examples
Example 1 — Polarized 3-Bet from BB vs BTN Open
100bb. BTN opens 2.5bb, folds to BB. You hold A4s.
- Decision: 3-bet to 11bb (4.4x).
- Why: A4s is a bottom-of-range hand vs BTN's wide range — it does not flat well multiway, but it has blocker effects (blocks AA, AK) and wheel equity. The 3-bet folds out 50%+ of BTN's open range and turns A4s into a +EV play instead of a marginal call.
- If 4-bet to 25bb: Fold. A4s as a bluff has done its job; calling a 4-bet OOP at SPR 3 is a leak.
Example 2 — Linear 3-Bet from CO vs UTG Open
UTG opens 2.3bb. You are CO with AQs. UTG's HUD: F3B 28%, calls 3-bets 60%, 4-bets 12%.
- Decision: 3-bet to 7bb (3x).
- Why: UTG is a station — folds rarely, calls wide. Drop bluff 3-bets entirely; play a linear range. AQs is at the top of your value range and prints against villain's wide call range (you flop top pair vs T9s and stack them).
- No A5s in this spot. Against this villain, A5s flats or folds — never 3-bets.
Example 3 — Squeeze 3-Bet from SB after BTN Open and CO Call
BTN opens 2.5bb, CO calls. You are SB with KJs.
- Decision: Squeeze to 14bb (5x with two players in).
- Why: Two capped ranges, dead money in the pot, KJs has blockers (KK, AK, KQ) and decent equity when called. Solver mixes KJs as a squeeze ~40% of the time here. Flatting is a leak — squeeze unlocks +EV.
Example 4 — 4-Bet Bluff with A4s
You opened BTN 2.5bb. SB 3-bet to 11bb. You hold A4s.
- Decision: 4-bet to 26bb (2.4x).
- Math: Risking 26bb to win the 11+2.5+1 = 14.5bb pot. Need to fold villain >64% to break even on fold equity alone... but A4s has ~33% equity when called by JJ+/AQ+, dropping the breakeven to ~52%. Against an SB with F3B-fold-to-4bet of 60%, this prints.
- Why A4s: Blocks AA and AK. If villain has KK+, blocks one of two combos of AK in their 5-bet range. Critical card removal.
Example 5 — QJs vs LAG Opener: Flat or 3-Bet?
LAG opens CO to 2.5bb. You are BTN with QJs. Villain HUD: 28% open, F3B 38%, 4-bets 10%.
- Decision: 3-bet to 8bb (3.2x).
- Why: Against a wide LAG, QJs gains value as a 3-bet — villain calls too light with worse broadways, you have position, and flatting invites blind squeezes.
- Against a tight UTG (14% open, F3B 70%), QJs flips to fold — too dominated to 3-bet, too speculative to flat multiway.
Putting It Together
The complete 3-bet decision flow:
- Read the open — position, sizing, opener tendency.
- Pick the construction — polarized, linear, or merged based on F3B%.
- Pick the size — IP 3x, OOP 4x, adjust for stack depth and squeeze status.
- Pre-plan 4-bet defense — know which hands call, which 4-bet, which fold.
- Plan the postflop SPR — confirm your sizing creates a workable SPR.
Memorize the ranges. Internalize the math. Use DEEPFOLD to drill until the decision is automatic.
🎯 Drill 3-bet ranges vs RFI → VS RFI Training
📖 Related: What Is a 3-Bet? — Fundamentals · Facing a 3-Bet: Defense Strategy · Preflop RFI Complete Guide · Polarized Ranges Explained