In short, it’s the third bet in a poker sequence where a player re-raises after the first pre-flop raise.Īny player who decides to 3-bet is considered aggressive, indicating they have a very strong hand or are simply bluffing. If someone re-raises this amount, they’ll make a 3-bet. When small and big blinds are placed, the first player to raise the bet will make a 2-bet. When to Use and When to Avoid the 3-Bet?.If you pull it off successfully, though, you’re in for a bloodbath.īut what is 3-bet exactly, and how to use it to gain an advantage in no-limit hold’em? Read on to find more.

One of the trademarks of this approach is the three-bet (3-bet), a strategy that takes a lot of courage. This also applies to many other professional poker players. By Adrian Sterne Updated: JanuPlaying aggressively often pays off if you know when to use it, and you’ll notice that the likes of Phil Ivey and his namesake Hellmuth can be pretty aggressive when needed.