progressHow often the big blind 3-bets
Most of the defence is calling. The raises are a thin, specific group of hands.
Defending the big blind is mostly about calling, as the defence guide shows. A 3-bet is the exception: it builds the pot, takes initiative and uses hands that either are very strong or benefit from blocking the opener's best hands. In our book (8-max tournaments with ante, small blind folds) the big blind 3-bets and shoves like this:
| Stack | vs UTG | vs CO | vs BTN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 BB | 0% / 8% | 0% / 17% | 2% / 21% |
| 30 BB | 6% / 0% | 10% / 5% | 12% / 10% |
| 40 BB | 6% / 0% | 14% / 0% | 17% / 2% |
| 50 BB | 6% / 0% | 13% / 0% | 20% / 0% |
| 60 BB | 6% / 0% | 13% / 0% | 20% / 0% |
| 100 BB | 6% / 0% | 14% / 0% | 19% / 0% |
Each cell shows the share of hands that are 3-bet / all-in.
What the table shows
- The wider the opener, the more the big blind 3-bets. At 40 BB the 3-bet share is 6% against UTG, 14% against the cutoff and 17% against the button.
- At 20 to 25 BB the big blind mostly shoves instead of 3-betting. At 20 BB against the button the all-in share is 21% and the 3-bet only 2%.
- Deeper than 40 BB a small 3-bet takes over: 19% against the button at 100 BB.
Which hands 3-bet
At 40 BB against a button open to 2.1 BB, the book 3-bets to 9.5 BB. The hands it always 3-bets: AA, AKs, AKo, AQs, AQo, AJs, AJo, ATs, A6o, A3o, A2o, KK, KQs, KQo, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, 77. Besides premiums, some ace-x offsuit hands appear as blockers, and the book mixes many others between a call and a 3-bet.
A practical rule
Compare your own 3-bet range from the big blind with this list: the book adds thin, hand-specific 3-bets to the premiums. Check the exact hands for your stack in the big blind defence chart at 40 BB and drill them.
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Related guides
Questions
How often should the big blind 3-bet against the button?
In our book about 17% of hands at 40 BB, 20% at 60 BB and 19% at 100 BB, plus a small share of all-ins at shallow stacks.
Does the big blind 3-bet less against early positions?
Yes. At 40 BB it 3-bets 6% against UTG and 17% against the button.
What about shallow stacks?
Under about 25 BB the big blind shoves instead of 3-betting, so the all-in share replaces the 3-bet share.
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progressGTO guides use our own solution book (v13, 8-max tournaments with ante, chip EV): an approximation of equilibrium with a modelled postflop, not an exact solution. Numbers are computed from the book and from the exact ICM model.
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