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Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range

05-16-2019 , 04:39 PM
What is the best way to think about when we want a polarized 3-bet range vs. a linear 3bet range? I understand the value of each but am having a hard time figuring out which strategy to employ and at which time, from both a GTO and exploitative view.

Janda says when we 3-bet smaller we should have a strong, linear range and when we 3-bet larger we should have a polarized range. Okay, I get that and agree. So when should we 3-bet large and when should we 3-bet small? vs. someone who calls too much? vs. someone who folds too much?
Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range Quote
05-16-2019 , 08:13 PM
My understanding is that it has more to do with position and the ranges you play that derive from that. Linear 3-betting with our entire range is best for early and mid positions, and polarized 3-betting is best for late positions. This video is a good intro and 3-betting comes in at 40:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6S8JbC3KWg
Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range Quote
05-16-2019 , 10:18 PM
Ignoring range composition for a moment, when does it universally make sense to 3 bet larger?

Might the situational conditions that involve larger 3 bets be the same conditions that lead to composing your range one way or another?
Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range Quote
05-17-2019 , 11:12 AM
Jason Koon sent me this on reddit:

Quote:
sizing will get larger as you get deeper but there is a sweet spot where this diminishes. Sizing will eventually level out no matter how deep you get. There are also a bunch of other elements that create changes in sizing pre.

-When we are in position we don't mind playing deeper SPR pots so that is one element that reflects IP sizing being smaller, but not the only one!

--- Another element to the smaller size is because there are always more people left to act when you are 3-betting IP so you have to risk less money because you run into hands more often.

------ this is also reflected post-flop. If you study solver outputs in multiway pots you will see that in most scenarios where there 3+ people in the pot, the earlier streets are exclusively bet for smaller sizes. If you start potting the flop into 3+ people you are effectively saying "I'm not bluffing" which isn't a good strategy, you always want to have the right amount of bluffs in your range and since it's likely that one or more of the players in the pot connected with the board, you need to start with a smaller size to do so.

----- This same reason is one of the major mechanics behind the huge BB sizing when you 3b heads up. Not only are you out of position and making the stack-to-pot ratio smaller is better for you, but you also get to close the action preflop which means you can just call with a bunch of good stuff and 3b really polar.



Here is an example:

Let's say we are playing 100bb deep in a 6 max cash game and UTG-6 Opens

- If we are UTG-5 we are going to play very tight with the majority of our continues being 3-bets.

---- since our range is so strong and there are still 4 live players left to act behind us we are going to 3B a smaller size than we would on the button.



Now let's say we are the Button and UTG-6 opens

--- since we are guaranteed to play a pot in position we don't have a problem flat calling, which we will do with a bunch of good hands at some % that would have been 3b much more aggressively from Utg-5. let's say a hand like KQs. We can then 3b more polar, let us say our value range is most of AK, KK+ and some of AQs and JJ type hands. Our "buffs can come from hands that Utg-5 would have just had to fold, like a hand like A2s ore K9s. This means, even though we are in position we will elect to 3b slightly bigger than we would in the other in position spots because of the 2 major elements I mentioned before; 1. we are more polar and 2. there are fewer people left to act behind us, so we run in to a good hand less often.



Now for the BB vs UTG=6

It's folded around to us and the earliest position has opened.

- Since we get to call and close the action there is much less incentive for us to 3B to force folds since we are guaranteed to play heads up.

--- This means our value range will shrink to something absurdly tight, let us say some of AKo some of QQ and all of KK+ AKs. We can just happily call hands like AJs and KJs and see a flop, so our bluffs don't need to be pulled from linear places like they do in the multiplayer scenarios. I may occasionally now 3b a hand like 54s and 87s or a sneaky J9s here and there. Since our frequency to 3b is so absurdly low in the first place and centered around KK+ AKs, we are going to 3B a giant size.
Linear 3bet range vs. Polarized 3bet range Quote

      
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