Facing a regular 3bettor preflop

[MAYHEM45]

in nl there is the call (1bet) the raise (2bet) and the re-raise (3bet). You never hear the terms 1bet and 2bet though. They dont exist.

[drewjax]

Thats what I thought. So this situation isnt a 3bet, correct?

Open to 40, raise to 120......

[Boobie Lover]

It is my assumption that is 3betting in NL.

[drewjax]

???????

[MAYHEM45]

lol. The open to 40 is the 2bet(raise) the raise (really reraise) to 120 is the 3bet.

(note if it was to 150 or 160 or whatever the number is, it is still a 3bet.)

[drewjax]

OK. So it isnt 3 physical bets, or doesnt have to be. But this is the same as limp, raise, re-raise? Makes sense, kinda.......

[Talking Poker]

Consider the BB to be the first bet if that makes it easier. Calls add 0 bets. Raises add 1.

So opening (to 40 in our example) is the 2nd bet and reraising (to 120 in our example) is the third - tada - three betting.


FWIW, I feel that I can pretty much dominate any table where no one 3 bets light (ie, if they reraise preflop, they have a BIG hand). The tables I have the most trouble with are when there are multiple people who three bet me light. In position, I call quite a bit - probably more than I should - and I HATE calling 3 bets out of position. I probably fold to 3 bets OOP too often and don't 4 bet (light) enough... I just don't seem to have the sones to pull it off very often.

IMO, light 3 betting is probably the biggest difference between the low limit NL cash games and the mid limit ones. Yes, lots of other things change and the players improve in general, but I'm saying it's the difference in 3 betting hand ranges that I think is the single biggest skill difference as you move up - not to mention the hardest one (for me) to counteract.

When I'm the guy doing all the light 3 betting, life is good.... when my opponents start playing back at my raises (and reraises) though, I start to get frustrated.