Calling Pre-flop? Strongly Consider 3-Betting Instead (NLTRN Theory)

[jay_shark]

Happy birthday Chicago !

Here is an old thread that is somewhat related .

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...Number=7637184

Generally speaking , if your opponent's range is ~ the top 50% of hands , then your re-raising range should be ~ the top 25% of hands . If you believe your hands plays better post-flop than the average hand your opponent would have , then you should consider re-raising . I find the biggest weakness amongst heads up players is that they seldom re-raise . Against a player who raises or folds his button , then you should be more inclined to 3-bet as his range is fairly wide . This means that against a player who raises the majority of his hands on the button , then it's imperative that you re-raise more than 25% of the time .

You may also negate your positional disadvantage by giving him less than 2:1 odds on the call .

[daveT]

Mind if I ask for a stat?

What is your BBwon/hand out of the SB and BB?

[TNixon]

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Three-betting gives you a strong chance to win immediately

[/ QUOTE ]
I have to agree with Chicago here, in that I don't believe this statement to be true, generally speaking. Certainly not on Full Tilt. It's a *very* rare opponent that will raise the button and then fold to anything less than an all-in 3bet, so when I do it, it's because my hand is likely to be ahead and I want them to put more money in with hands that are likely to be dominated, not because I think I have a chance to win preflop.

Lots of opponents will play almost any two cards preflop to normal-sized raises (3x-5x), in position or out, no matter what the preflop action is, but will fold the flop to a donk bet if they miss, which means that you can take a shot at the same chips for a lot less risk, and with a much higher chance of success, by flat calling preflop and donking a wide variety of flops.

I pop habitual limpers with a pretty wide range (probably wider than I really should), but I 3bet OOP pretty narrow, unless I see somebody folding to 3bets too often, which I think I've seen exactly *one* opponent do in the past 2-3 weeks, playing $30s, $50s, and $100s. I think my 3 bet range is somewhere around A9+, 55+, sometimes KQ and KJs, but *very* rarely anything weaker than that, unless my opponent is raising the button too often. (which, again, seems pretty rare. Habitual limpers seem to be FAR more common than habitual raisers)