No-Limit Holdem: push-back strategy (Part I)

See also

• No-Limit Holdem: push-back strategy (Part II)
• No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tips (Part I)

One push-back strategy is 3-betting light, e.g., the pre-flop re-raise.
To 3-bet means to re-raise a pre-flop raise. This term comes from limit hold'em, a poker variation in which 3-bets are very common. To make it simple, in limit hold'em we consider that the initial raiser opens for 2BB. This is a 2-bet. Therefore, a reraise, in limit, is called a 3-bet. When it comes to no-limit, the term "3-bet" essentially applies to pre-flop action. When this move takes place post-flop, it's simply called a re-raise.

The word "light" in 3-betting light refers to the range of hands with which you would 3-bet an opponent. More precisely, it corresponds to the weakest holding with which you'd re-raise. Obviously, everything depends on the positions and the initial raiser's hand range. For example, 3-betting a tight player who open-raises from UTG when you hold pocket 10s can be considered a light aggressive maneuver. Conversely, to 3-bet from the BB with pocket 9s against an aggressive player who raises from the button is a more standard move.

To efficiently use the 3-bet strategy requires good skills and a lot of playing experience. Your success depends on your ability to assess your opponents' hand ranges and your own table image, especially in pre-flop situations.

Making a 3-bet when an initial raise has already been called before you act is called a "squeeze". For example, let's say the initial raiser is a very aggressive player, who might very well open raise from UTG with KQ off-suit. A player to his left, let's say UTG+2, could call the initial raise with a marginal hand, trying to take advantage of his position on the initial raiser. If you now 3-bet from the BB, you greatly complicate things for your opponents. The initial raiser is now facing two opponents and a difficult decision. More often than not, the caller will have to fold a marginal holding.

However, watch out for the caller, who might be preparing a "New York back raise", an increasingly popular move. This strategy consists of flat-calling an initial raise with a premium hand such as AA or KK, hoping that another opponent will attempt to squeeze behind. Then when a squeeze occurs, the player will often be able to re-re-raise all-in. This is a great move to use on aggressive squeezers.

To master the 3-bet light technique, you need to demonstrate great skills at assessing your opponents' hand ranges and betting patterns. In general, the 3-bet light will prove more profitable against aggressive players. If you 3-bet light when you're up against a tight player, you may hit a wall and you'll rarely accumulate chips. Although tight opponents might fold pre-flop, more frequently they'll call you with a genuine premium hand, which will greatly reduce your room to maneuver.

3-betting light allows you to protect your strong hands. If you 3-bet only when you hold AA or KK, you give your opponents implied odds to call with suited connectors or any pocket pair. Your opponent's strategy is then very basic: Unless he/she connects with the flop, getting the opportunity to stack you off, he/she will give up right there most of the time. If, instead, you 3-bet with a greater range, such as 10-9 suited, and you systematically c-bet the flop, you annihilate your opponent's strategy. Even when the opponent connects with the flop, he/she won't necessarily be able to capitalize on it. At the same time, your opponent will still usually give up on the missed flops. Therefore, by broadening the range of hands with which you 3-bet, you force your opponents to make difficult decisions, which can result in costly mistakes. Again, this is a key point in poker:
You need to constantly mix up your game, in order never to become predictable.