What really is a 3-bet in poker?

A 3-bet in poker is generally used to describe pre-flop play, but it applies to all streets. A 3-bet in pre-flop play is when a player raises, and another person re-raises (a 3-bet). The reason this is a 3-bet is because the blinds are already a forced bet pre-flop (first bet). When a player raises a hand pre-flop, they are entering the second bet because they have to raise at least the minimum of the big blind (min bet). This raise by the first player is now called the 2-bet (or re-raise). When a second player raises again (re-raises), this now becomes a 3-bet.

What happens after pre-flop play? poker 3-bet

A common mistake a lot of poker players make, is calling the second raise on the flop or a later street, as a 3-bet, but it’s not. It’s a 2-bet. Once you get to the flop in poker, there are no more forced bets. The minimum bet now becomes the big blind of the table. When the first person bets (or sometimes this is called a raise), they open the betting for that street. If another player then raises their bet, this is called a 2-bet (or re-raise). It’s not until another player (or the original raiser), then raises again, that this is called a 3-bet on the flop or a later street.

 

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