A 3-bet is the first re-raise before the flop. The big blind counts as the first bet, the open raise is the second bet, and a re-raise over that open is the third bet — hence “3-bet”. After the flop, the same word is used for any raise over a bet and a raise.
A 3-bet example
In a $1/$2 game, the cutoff opens to $6. You are on the button with A♥ Q♥ and re-raise to $18. That re-raise is a 3-bet. If the cutoff now raises again, to $50, that is a 4-bet.
How big should a 3-bet be?
- In position: about 3 times the open raise (to $18 over a $6 open).
- Out of position (from the blinds): about 4 times the open, because you will play the rest of the hand at a disadvantage.
- Against limpers or multiple callers: add one open-raise size for each player already in the pot.
What hands should you 3-bet?
Strong players 3-bet for two reasons. Value 3-bets are hands that are happy to get more money in, such as QQ+, AK and often JJ and AQ. Bluff 3-bets are hands that play poorly as a call but have good blockers or playability, such as suited aces (A5s, A4s) and suited connectors. Mixing both makes your 3-bets hard to read.
In live low-stakes games, where players call too much and rarely fold to re-raises, it usually pays to 3-bet mostly for value and keep the bluffs to a minimum.
Why 3-bet instead of calling?
- You can win the pot right away when the opener folds.
- You take the initiative into the flop, so a continuation bet often wins.
- You build a bigger pot with your best hands and cut down the number of players.
Track your 3-bet results
Log your sessions in the free poker bankroll tracker and tag hands where you 3-bet, so you can see whether your aggression is actually making money. Every term in this series is listed in our poker glossary.