Lesson
3-Betting Math Against Wide Openers
Preflop Architecture · advanced · 13 min
Tyler and Eric discuss how to adjust three-betting strategy when an under-the-gun player opens far wider than a normal range. The lesson focuses on using the opener's actual preflop raise percentage, mapping that range to a comparable position, and choosing between matching solver frequencies or three-betting a more linear top-X-percent range to punish over-opens and over-defenses.
Key takeaways
- Base your three-bet response on the opponent's actual opening frequency, not on the charted range for the position if the player is opening too wide.
- When an under-the-gun player opens around 30%, compare that range to a cutoff opening range and look at how the button responds to that range as a practical approximation.
- Against players who open too many hands, three-bet more often than GTO so their breakeven opens become losing opens when they must fold preflop.
- If an opponent responds to extra three-bets by calling too much, a well-built solver range can still force losses from the hands that should have folded.
- A linear top-X-percent three-betting range is one exploitative option because it makes weak calls perform poorly against the strongest portion of your range.