[BarryLyndon]

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3 betting preflop with 9's is fine if you 3 bet with a wide range of hands .

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3-betting 99 OOP is more than fine, but against an unknown this early, I think it's a mess.

The thing with HUSNGs is that at the low blind levels, I hate getting involved in big pots OOP. They just create the WORST [censored] spots. I like spots OOP where stack sizes are like 10% of my stack, not %40 percent. I don't like making decisions on a K Q 10 board with a pot of 600 and 1200 remaining, because that just sucks. And, I couldn't give a [censored] about picking up 90 chips if he happens to fold Ax or 55.

Now, at 30/60, when I see a raise to 180 and there is already 240 in the pot, I can do something that commits me to flops easier or that forces my opponent to make a decision for all his chips. Now I'm more than happy to 3-bet with 99, 88, AJo, and other hands depending on his range.

Of course, in cash games, the three-bet with 99 is almost mandatory, IMO, but HUSNGs early stages has a structure that creates for more unique situations, IMO.

Barry