Preflop 3-Bet Ranges: When to Light 3-Bet

Preflop play is where most money is won or lost before the flop even hits. Today I want to dive deep into 3-bet ranges — specifically, when you should be deviating from standard charts and adding light 3-bets to your arsenal.

The Standard 3-Bet Range

In a typical 100bb cash game, a standard 3-bet range from the Button vs a CO open looks something like: TT+, AQo+, AJs+, KQs, and some suited connectors like 76s-T9s. This gives you about 6-8% of hands.

But here’s the thing — if you only 3-bet this range, observant opponents will quickly adjust. They’ll fold everything but premiums, and you’ll miss out on significant EV.

When to Light 3-Bet

1. Blind vs Blind. The SB vs BB dynamic is unique — ranges are wide, position matters less postflop. I’ll 3-bet up to 15% from the SB, including hands like A5s, K9s, QTs, and small pocket pairs.

2. vs High Fold-to-3Bet. If your HUD shows villain folds to 3-bet > 70%, you should be 3-betting relentlessly with any two cards that have decent postflop playability. The immediate fold equity alone is profitable.

3. Late Position Battles. CO vs BTN, BTN vs blinds — these spots call for wider 3-bet ranges. I add suited Aces down to A2s, suited Kings down to K8s, and all suited connectors 54s+.

Sizing Matters

In position: 3x the open is standard. Out of position: go bigger — 4x or even 4.5x. You want to reduce the SPR and neutralize the positional disadvantage.

Summary

The key takeaway: your 3-bet range should be fluid, not static. Adjust to your opponent’s tendencies and the specific game dynamic. Default to tight, but know when to open up.

This vlog is part of the daily Poker Vlog series. For more strategy content, download the BPT App — the best free poker tracker with session logging and bankroll management.