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Three Betting in Heads Up SNGs: The Basics

This is part of an ongoing series of basic strategy for heads up Sit and Go tournaments. For more articles, click here.

I can remember the first time I moved up in limits to the $115 heads up sit-n-go’s in 2007. I can still remember with distinct frustration one opponent I encountered who would 3bet me relentlessly.

Being a bit inexperienced, I did not understand the value of 3 betting, how to combat it, and all the decisions that go into it. Having a much firmer grip on 3 betting dynamics today, let’s examine the in’s and out’s of 3 betting – sexy, stupid, or scary?

A few fundamental factors will go into 3 betting situations:

1. Frequency

2. Sizing

3. Game flow

The frequency refers to the number of times the villain has 3 bet us. Is this his first 3bet of the game in the first 20 hands? Or is this is 5th 3bet in the last 10 hands. There is a drastic difference in opponent types between these two examples. Now this is not a fact, but should allow us to understand our opponent better.

The villain I encountered in my first venture to the higher buy-in games was the latter. It was confusing, scary, and hard to combat effectively. I never experienced a player relentlessly 3betting me before so it was a tough adjustment at first.

Being more experienced now, what does this all mean? Well the frequency is important to consider. What is more likely – that he is 3betting me as a bluff five times out of ten hands or that he is picking up strong holding after holding five times out of ten? Of course it is possible he is on a mad card rush, but it is far more likely that he is bluffing more way often than not.

Now on the reverse, say this is our opponents first 3 bet. What is more likely – he is bluffing one time out of 20 or that he has a real hand, one out of 20. This time his 3 bet appears more genuine. This is the frequency component to 3 betting.

Another factor in 3 bet dynamics is the sizing. In general, the effective 3 bet is 3x the opening size. That is to say, if we open to 60 at blinds of 10 and 20 (10 is the small blind, 20 is the big blind) his correct 3 bet size would be to 180. 60 x 3 = 180. Slight adjustments either way, while important to be aware of, do not play vastly different.

Applying this rule to us, let’s now break it. Say we are playing a poor opponent who we have noted will defend extremely wide and will call regardless of how much we raise. Blinds are 15/30 (SB/BB) and villain opens to 90. Hero has KK. The correct or fundamental 3 bet size would be: 3x 90 = 270. However we decide he will call wide so we 5x. 5x 90 = 450.

The last point to consider is game flow. If there is a high amount of 3 bet’s going forth from both players this will alter the game situation. Maybe the normal range for 3 bets is no longer in play. We have altered our range and adapted to our opponent to incorporate game flow decisions, and so has our opponent, changing the game radically.

Also in this series: the basics of effective stacks and fundamental bankroll management advice.

Read more articles from our HU SNG Basics series.

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