Example for Question: How do you adjust your pre-flop range against a player who never folds to 3-bets?
Question: How do you adjust your pre-flop range against a player who never folds to 3-bets?
- A) Continue 3-betting with your entire range.
- B) Only 3-bet with your strongest hands for value. (Correct Answer)
- C) Avoid 3-betting altogether and focus on flat calling.
- D) 3-bet with more bluffs to capitalize on their loose calls.
Explanation: When facing a player who never folds to 3-bets, it’s best to tighten your range and 3-bet primarily for value. This way, when they call, you are more likely to have the best hand, and you can capitalize on their willingness to put money in the pot with weaker holdings.
Expanded Example:
Imagine you’re playing in a $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em cash game. There’s a player at your table (let’s call him Player B) who is known for calling almost any 3-bet, regardless of the size or the strength of his hand. You’ve noticed that Player B has a tendency to call 3-bets with a wide range of hands, such as suited connectors, weaker aces, and even low pocket pairs. This makes him a “calling station” in these situations.
The Problem with Bluffing:
In most cases, you might 3-bet as a bluff to force your opponents to fold their weaker hands. However, against Player B, this strategy is ineffective because he rarely folds to 3-bets. Bluffing becomes less profitable since he is likely to call with hands that could still outdraw you post-flop. For example, if you 3-bet with King-Queen offsuit and he calls with 8-7 suited, you might be ahead pre-flop, but he could easily outflop you by hitting a pair or a draw.
Why Tighten Your Range?
- Value from Strong Hands: Instead of bluffing, you should adjust by only 3-betting with your strongest hands for value. Hands like pocket Aces, Kings, Queens, Ace-King, and Ace-Queen suited should make up the bulk of your 3-betting range. These hands have a significant equity advantage against the wide range of hands Player B will call with, and you can confidently continue post-flop.
- Capitalize on Their Loose Calls: By tightening your range, you maximize the value you extract from Player B’s willingness to call with weaker holdings. For instance, if you 3-bet with Ace-King and he calls with King-9 suited, you dominate his hand. On a King-high flop, he might continue with top pair, putting more money into the pot when he’s heavily outmatched.
- Reduced Variance: Bluffing against a player who never folds to 3-bets increases variance because you’re relying on hitting flops or getting lucky. By 3-betting only your strongest hands, you reduce this variance and increase your chances of winning big pots.
Example Hand:
You’re in the cutoff with pocket Kings (K♠ K♦). Player B is on the button. The action folds to you, and you raise to $6. As expected, Player B reraises to $18 (a common move for him, given his loose tendencies). Knowing that Player B rarely folds to 3-bets, you decide to 3-bet to $60, confident that he will call with a wide range of weaker hands.
- Player B Calls: As anticipated, Player B calls the $60, and the pot is now $125.
- The Flop: The flop comes Q♣ 9♠ 4♦. This is a relatively safe board for your Kings, with only one overcard (the Queen). You’re ahead of most of the hands Player B would call a 3-bet with, such as Ace-Queen, Queen-Jack, or even hands like Jack-10 suited.
- Post-Flop Play: You decide to continue your aggression with a bet of $80 into the $125 pot. Player B calls again, potentially with a hand like Queen-Jack or a flush draw. The turn and river cards don’t change the board significantly, and you continue betting for value, ultimately winning a large pot when Player B shows a weaker hand like Queen-Jack suited.
Why Not 3-Bet with a Wider Range?
- Risk of Being Outdrawn: If you had 3-bet with a hand like Ace-Jack offsuit, Player B might still call with hands that can outdraw you, such as King-Queen or even 9-8 suited. Post-flop, you’d be in a difficult situation if you don’t hit the board.
- Missed Value: By focusing your 3-betting on strong hands, you ensure that when Player B calls, you are more likely to have the best hand and can extract maximum value from his loose calls.
Key Takeaway:
When facing a player who never folds to 3-bets, it’s crucial to tighten your range and 3-bet primarily for value. By doing so, you ensure that you’re getting the most out of your strong hands while minimizing the risk of being outdrawn or having to navigate tricky post-flop situations with marginal hands. This adjustment allows you to capitalize on their loose play and win bigger pots when you have the best hand.
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