Hi all,

So we remain balanced and not easily exploitable on certain flops, we probably need to 3! a range that includes some hands without AA. What are some good candidates? Some of these hands are probably favorites over some lesser AA holdings so they are in a sense for value and as a bluff.

I think the solver prefers rundowns with three high and two low or vice versa, with gaps since those hands do better against AA. What are your favorite non-AA 3! candidates?

Or do we not need to do this in live poker at all? What about as you move higher in stakes?

Some that come to mind: good double suited A- and K-high rundowns, some Q-high like QJT87, double paired connected hands like TT998 or KKJJQ.

Thanks,
DT

It depends a lot on stack depth and position, but I tend pretty wide OTB/CO unless there is a large potential for a squeeze, and I mix in some hands like Ax suited + connectivity, connected kings, rundowns, etc. Also depends on opponent tendencies etc. But in general, if you are known as a player whose three-bets are mostly AA skewed towards premiums, I think you will get exploited a lot postflop if stacks are deep enough.

On the other hand, judging from your results, I am not sure you really need to widen your seemingly tight ranges - I mean, if you make 100k/year playing like you do, is there really any merit to changing your play?

You should 3-bet some non-AA hands. But it's not for balance, board coverage, or image. Just make good plays and get money.

Do you have any recommendations on good candidates?

Double suited connected A high rundowns. Specifically cards 6-Q which unblock KK.

Some non AA hands perform better as a 3B because they prevent multiple opponents from entering the pot and thus increase the value of your non-nutted draws. i.e a hand like JT875$ds is much better suited to a heads-up pot than multi-way. Doesn't mean you should 3B any $ds semi-rundown against an EP open though, still want to be selective...