3-bet
A 3-bet is a raise after another raise. It is the first re-raise in a betting round.
The simple explanation
A 3-bet is a raise after another raise. One player raises, and a second player raises again: that second raise is the 3-bet. Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet, so the opening raise is the 2-bet and the re-raise is the 3-bet.
A closer look
Players 3-bet with strong hands to build a bigger pot, and sometimes with bluffs to put pressure on an opponent. Which hands and size make sense depend on the opponent, position, effective stacks and the size of the first raise. A 3-bet can happen after the flop too: bet, raise, then re-raise. The name counts the betting actions; it does not mean three times the previous amount.
A practical example
With blinds of 1/2 chips, Player A raises to 6. Player B raises again to 18. Player B has made a 3-bet.
Full explanation
A 3-bet is a raise after another raise. It is the first re-raise in a betting round.
Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet. If Player A raises and Player B raises again, Player B has made a 3-bet. A further raise would be a 4-bet. The number counts the betting actions, not how many times larger the raise must be.
Players can 3-bet with a strong hand to build the pot, or as a bluff to put pressure on an opponent. A 3-bet can happen after the flop as well: one player bets, another raises, and a player raises again.
See a 3-bet
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet.
Read the example transcript
Player B has the button (BTN). Player C posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player D posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
Player A raises to 6 chips. This is the first raise, sometimes called a 2-bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Preflop · Pot: 27 chips
Player B raises again, to 18 chips. This re-raise is the 3-bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 182 · In this round 18
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.