Methodology for creating 3bet defence ranges?

Posted by Danshiel350

Posted by Danshiel350 posted in Low Stakes

Posted 10 years, 9 months ago

Methodology for creating 3bet defence ranges?

It came to my attention recently that whan i slip into B/C game poker i call 3bets FAR too light, both in position and OOP.

As a result, I am going to use some study time to play with ranges and see what a "good" calling strategy looks like. I feel like having this kind of knowledge will help me develop a better thought process when in the middle of a session.

I'm not asking anybody to give me the answers (as if there is such a thing), but I thought I'd ask people what the best methodology was?

This is my idea so far:

Using Flopzilla, create a pre flop raise range (my standard open is 3x at 25NL) and assuming the average 3bet is to 10bb calculate the min defence frequency; which is usually around 1/3rd of my opening range.

I'll then select the appropriate number of combos to defend by 4bet (and balance with bluffs), then use the rest of the combos to fill out a calling range.

With the calling range, I'll then create a number of random flops in flopzilla, and try to spot textures where my defending frequency will be too low, if this happens regularly and in comon scenerios, I'll tweak the range then rinse & repeat.

Does this sound ok?

7 Comments

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Whipman 10 years, 9 months ago

Yes. You can post some of your findings here and we might talk about it. Btw: you say that your defending range is usually a third of your opening range. That doesn't sound very loose to me at all.

OttoPilot 10 years, 9 months ago

Honestly, I think not calling enough versus 3-bets is a bigger leak these days than calling too much. Exploitatively you should be defending at least 1/3rd, that's true, but especially in position you should go much wider than this.

Danshiel350 10 years, 9 months ago

Nope. 1/3 rd isn't so loose. But, in reality it's higher when tilted. I think I need it more standardised to prevent this. For example, say I raise with a PP, I'll arbitrarily decide that this is in my defence range. Then on the next orbit, I'll have 89s and decide that this is. But I just interchange it to suit my actual holding I suspect, and in reality I'm calling too many PP's and too many SC's when combined etc.

Not sure that's explained well...

Posting findings is a great idea.