Bet sizing in 3bet/4bet pots

How does your sizing differ from what you'd do in smaller pots?
If you change it at all.

I ask because I'm not really clear on this one.

Assuming there's between a 19bb and 25bb pot with 100bb starting stacks then stacks are going in on the flop or turn, most of the time.

How small do you think you can bet here, or do you think that's dumb and you should just be shoving?

I guess it depends on what you've got/ how committed you are. If you were trying to build the pot with a bighand preflop with the intention of extracting maximum value bet the pot. I've heard people say 1/2 the pot in a 3bet pot is fine. But if you have a big hand relative to the size of the pot you may as well bet big. Shoving seems like a bad idea since you lose a lot of value- a pot size bet will get some weaker hands that should fold to call and the feel committed on the turn when you do shove (since no other bet will be correct when there are 75bb in the pot and you have 65 ish left). And you still get a pot of folds I guess but probably fewer than a shove. If you are cbetting maybe less is right Ill cbet 1/2 a pot on a cbet with AK if I miss the flop

Good question, I'd say it depends on a lot of variables.

If we miss on the board with a hand like AQ on a board that is likely to have hit our opponent big (or just plain missed us big...)

But with a hand like AKs when I'm the 3-better and I end up with a pair and a nut FD I'll bet softly. TpTk with no draws I'm betting harder. Top set on a dry board, I'm checking or betting very small, two pair on a wet board I'm betting more...

It stands to reason that board texture is going to be a huge contributing factor, as well as villain, how often he shows up to 3-bet pots, and our actual holdings.

80-100% of the pot with an intention of shoving if you believe you're ahead or folding if you think you're behind would make sense. With an absolute monster I understand betting less, but it all depends.

Good question, I look forward to following the discussion.

you should 4 bet bluff more than 4 bet for value as calling ip with hands that dominate your opponent is just to good an oportuinty to miss.

This way you can 4 bet lets say
$5/$10

2nd 30-90/3rd 110-250/4th 280

This way you can fold even with pot odds.

This also helps AK become an even better 4 bet hand has you should be getting called or 5 bet more frequently due to your increased activity.

I started 4 betting more against the right people and the right frequency and it works a treat.


But to answer your question i normally 4 bet 2.5x to 2.8x whether it's a small pot or not.

If you 4 bet I would make it to like 33-35bb so that you can make a pot sized shove when you decide to do so on the flop. Gives you a nice SPR for your big hands and makes you hard to bluff because you have officially crossed the commitment threshold.
Just a thought- if you want are to get stacks in quickly.

My standard c-bet size in a 3-bet pot is half or 2/3'rds.

3-bet pots you frequently want to bet ~55-60% pot.
4-bet pots you frequently want to bet ~25-30% pot.

this is highly variable depending on the situation.