Facing an open
Folding, calling or 3-betting after a player in front of you has raised.
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- What it means
- The skills for acting after an open: defending the big blind, playing in position on the button, and the awkward small blind with the big blind still behind.
- How it is calculated
- Compare the price of calling with how well the hand plays after the flop, and 3-bet the hands that are strong enough for value plus some that make good bluffs. Position decides how wide you can call.
- Worked example
- The button opens to 2.5bb. In the big blind the pot is 0.5 + 1 + 2.5 = 4bb and you need 1.5bb more to call, so you need 1.5 ÷ 5.5, about 27%, equity. That good price is why the big blind defends wide.
- Why it matters
- Most pots you play are decided here. Calling too much out of position and never 3-betting are both steady leaks.
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