3-bet / 4-bet ranges

3-Bet and 4-Bet Ranges Explained Simply for Beginners

1. Understanding Ranges and Percentages

In poker, one of the most valuable skills is knowing which hands to play and how to respond when opponents raise. Players often hear terms like 3-bet and 4-bet ranges in poker, which may sound complicated at first. But in reality, they are easier to understand than most beginners think.

To start, let’s clarify. An open-raise is the first raise preflop. If another player re-raises, that’s called a 3-bet (because blinds are the first two bets). If the raise is answered by another raise, that’s a 4-bet. Technically, there can be 5-bets and beyond, but those are rare and usually involve only premium hands.

When we talk about ranges, we mean the percentage of possible starting hands a player chooses to play. Poker has 169 unique starting combinations if we ignore suits. By selecting a certain percentage, we define which hands fall into a player’s range.

For example, the top 10% of hands typically includes pocket pairs from 99+, AK, AQ, AJs, KQs. If we expand to 20%, we add ATo, KJo, suited connectors like 87s, and pocket pairs down to 66 or 77.

2. 3-Bet Ranges: How and Why

A 3-bet range represents the hands a player chooses for re-raising preflop. This range can vary widely depending on style. A very tight player may only 3-bet with 3–5% of hands (QQ+, AK). A balanced regular often 3-bets 7–10% (adding 99, AJs, KQs, A5s). An aggressive opponent may go even wider, using 12% or more, which includes weaker suited aces and speculative connectors.

Position matters too. Players in the blinds tend to 3-bet more often, to avoid playing out of position. On the button, the 3-bet range can be broader, because of the advantage of acting last post-flop.

Percentages by situation often look like this in today’s online games:

  • 3-bet vs early position: 3–5% (mostly premium hands).
  • 3-bet vs middle position: 6–8% (adding more suited aces, pairs).
  • 3-bet vs button: 10–12% (widest range, including connectors and suited Broadway).

Another important idea is balance. If you only 3-bet with monsters, opponents will quickly adjust and fold weaker hands, denying you value. By mixing in bluffs, you keep your range unpredictable.

3. 4-Bet Ranges and Practical Tips

A 4-bet is a stronger move. The pot gets big quickly, so ranges here are tighter. Against a very tight opponent, 4-bets are usually just QQ+ and AK — around 2–3% of all hands. Against an aggressive player who 3-bets too wide, you can add some bluffing combos (like A5s, KQo) to make your 4-bet range 5–7%.

4-bets fall into two categories: for value and as a bluff. Value 4-bets are with hands strong enough to play for stacks (QQ+, AK). Bluff 4-bets are weaker but chosen strategically to fold out opponents. For instance, A5s has poor showdown value but good blockers, making it a smart bluffing candidate.

For 4-bets:

  • Against tight players: 2–3% (strictly strong hands).
  • Against aggressive players: 5–7% (a mix of strong and bluffing hands).

Here’s a simple example. Suppose you hold AJs on the button against an open from middle position. You can either call or 3-bet. If you have a tight image, your 3-bet looks very strong and may force a fold. But if the opponent is aggressive, they may call or even 4-bet. Facing a 4-bet, AJs usually becomes a fold, since it doesn’t perform well against a narrow 4-bet range. With QQ or AK, however, you can comfortably continue.

The bottom line is that poker is about adaptation. There’s no universal chart that fits every spot. Always consider position, opponent tendencies, and stack depth. By grasping the basics of 3-bet and 4-bet ranges in poker, even a new player can improve decision-making, reduce costly mistakes, and grow steadily as a poker player.