In poker, a 3-bet refers to the third bet in a sequence of bets. Specifically, it most commonly refers to the first re-raise before the flop, although it can also refer to the first re-raise after the flop. The first open-raise preflop in Holdem and Omaha is referred to as a "2-bet" because the mandatory blind payments are considered as the first bet of the sequence.
There are two main types of 3-bets: value 3-bets and light 3-bets. A value 3-bet is when a player believes they have the best hand and wants to get more money into the pot while they have the advantage. A light 3-bet is essentially a semi-bluff, where a player three-bets with a hand that is not necessarily the best, but has the potential to improve on the flop.
Players use 3-bets for several reasons, including to make their opponents decisions more difficult, to reduce the average number of players in the pot, and to pick up the pot preflop. Incorporating 3-betting into a players strategy can provide a significant boost to their winrate.
