3-betting

Ive read up some info about 3-betting, some of it was helpful but i still think im missing a lot of information in order for me to use it effectively. Currently at 5nl im only 3-betting AQ+. But with the mixture of fish/bad players and the regulars/NITS at 5nl I think I can 3-bet much lighter and win pots where I might have missed out on at the moment.

Ive read that you should 3-3.5x the initial raise if you're in position, and 4-4.5x if youre out of position. But also that 3-betting should mostly be done out of position as it basically takes away pot control? Are these true statements?

Basically, what should approximate ranges of hands should I bet 3-betting with against fish, regulars and NITS? I know a lot depends on the exact player, and ive got PT4 to view stats etc. Just generally, what hands should I be looking at 3-betting with? What are your 3-bet ranges?

No, you mostly want to 3-bet in position for hopefully obvious reasons.

I would tend myself to three bet more in position and for more chips. Because you are playing the rest of the hand in position. As of out of position, I would make my bets slightly less. I don't want to play this pot out of position with a lot of money in it and even if I do, I only want the best of my range.

The problem with three betting with more chips out of position is that you are playing bigger pots out of position (which I don't advise) meaning that you will have a harder time making decisions.

I three bet with AQ+ and 99+ (I can adjust to JJ+ and AK if necessary). Against fish, I will three bet slightly lighter so I can get value from my hands. Fish like seeing flops a lot and don't go fold from your c-bet if they have a pair. Even with a board as dangerous as AKQ two clubs and they have Q2, fish can call this bet.

In my opinion all depends on the kind of player we are facing to make a good 3-bet move.
Heads Up display (HUD) can help you very much trying to figured out with what kind of players are you facing!
3-bet is very effective against nits and SLP's !
and never 3-bet a fish or a maniac cuz they dont like to fold

akaRobbo said:

5nl im only 3-betting AQ+. But with the mixture of fish/bad players and the regulars/NITS at 5nl I think I can 3-bet much lighter and win pots where I might have missed out on at the moment.

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Most three betting exploitation will happen in co vs button, and button vs blind, and blind vs blind. If you are in any of those situations and feel that your opponenet is folding to 3 bets 70% of the time or more, you can use any Ax blocker hand to three bet him and then shut down if called, or choose to barrel based on the board

akaRobbo said:

Ive read that you should 3-3.5x the initial raise if you're in position, and 4-4.5x if youre out of position. But also that 3-betting should mostly be done out of position as it basically takes away pot control? Are these true statements?

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There is alot of wiggle room here. If you are going for folds, like vs a nit, then 3 bet just large enough to get the job done. If you want a general rule, then the above is fine.

akaRobbo said:

Basically, what should approximate ranges of hands should I bet 3-betting with against fish, regulars and NITS? I know a lot depends on the exact player, and ive got PT4 to view stats etc. Just generally, what hands should I be looking at 3-betting with? What are your 3-bet ranges?

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assuming you are talking about co vs button where you have position.

Vs a nit, I am three betting alot of Axs and small SC's. If he is the type to only 4 bet and never call my 3 bets, Ill drop the sc's from my range.

Vs a good player, I balance those hands together at a certain frequency.

Vs a fish, you go light for value. Once again based on his 4 bet and calling tendencies you could go as low as 99 and AJo, KJo for value. This heavility depends on "how much" and "what kind" of fish he is.

I think the question about 3-bet really comes down to how you feel you can get value. If someone bets into me and I have position, there's a good chance I can play AK or AQ profitably by flatting. Nothing wrong with a 3-bet though. Just depends on how you like to play and the people you are playing against. If the out of position player who lead out is likely to call loose, yeah, 3-bet. If they are likely to fold out A10, then no, flat and make your money down stream.

Conversely, AJ is a strong hand that can be tricky to play out of position. So it might be good to 3-bet your AJ. If you get a fold, great. If you get a call, at least your going into the flop with a strong hand.

Basically, if I want to play the lower part of my range and feel like I have decent equity against my opponent 3-betting out of position is a good choice. But there's a lot more considerations than that.