12-Week Study Program Week #2 - 3-Betting & Calling | Weekly Coaching with Matt Hunt

Week #2: Responding vs a Raise First-In (Matt Hunt, Octtopi Poker)

Overview

• Host: Matt Hunt (Octtopi / Octopi Poker).
• Session focus: how to respond to a preflop open (fold / call / three‑bet / shove) across stack sizes and positions, and common mistakes players make.
• Topics covered: positional formation vs stack size, common “punting” spots, big‑blind defense, shove/reshove inflection points, an unusual spot where you should never three‑bet, plus practical implementation via Octopi sims and upcoming drills/quizzes on the Octopi platform.

Key conclusions (short)

• Position usually matters more than stack size in most non‑blind spots: who is left to act (positional formation) typically dictates how wide you can play.
• Stack size matters more inside the blinds because the opener can exploit position against you.
• Many players “punt” by constructing incorrect flatting / three‑bet ranges at various depths — learn the right balance of flats, polar 3‑bets and shoves by spot.
• Don’t overfold your big blind; defend more at depth but adjust sizing and three‑bet construction by stack depth.
• When a micro stack (very short) is left behind and will shove at very high frequency, generally avoid three‑betting.

Detailed tips and strategic rules

Position versus stack size

• Outside the blinds: the opener’s position and how many players are left to act dominate whether you can widen your response range. Small changes in stack size (e.g., 30→100bb) often produce only minor range shifts.
• Button vs facing UTG/early opens: you can flat and three‑bet much more from the button. Position amplifies the value of deeper stacks, but not as much as many players expect (examples show only ~1–2% VPIP differences).
• Inside the blinds: stack sizes and who can re‑raise/isolate matter more — be more sensitive to stack depths and opponent sizing when defending from the blinds.

Common spots where players “punt” (and what to do)

1. Middle position vs early open at deep stacks (≈100bb)

   • Mistake: overcalling with small pocket pairs, too many weak suited connectors, or using overly polarized three‑bet ranges.
   • Fix: avoid overly polarized 3‑bet ranges; protect your flatting range with hands like QJ; include mixed small 3‑bets for thin value/board coverage; be mindful of squeezes behind.

2. Same formation at ~40bb

   • Mistake: linear 3‑betting hands that become disasters when faced with a 4‑bet jam.
   • Fix: shift toward a more polarized 3‑bet strategy; keep hands you can clearly shove or clearly fold to a 4‑bet; use flats for hands you want to realize equity with.

3. Late position vs middle open at 25–40bb

   • Mistake: overfolding in position and failing to exploit the opener’s range.
   • Fix: be wider and more aggressive in position; favor flats for many suited broadways and use polarized shoves/3‑bets for hands that either want to get it in or fold comfortably.

4. Small blind vs any open under ~30bb

   • Mistake: trying to play normal non‑all‑in 3‑bet pots at shallow stacks.
   • Fix: non‑all‑in 3‑bets should be very polarized; include a meaningful jamming range — shoving 20–30bb is often correct in many spots.

5. Small blind / big blind vs an open + one or more calls (multiway)

   • Mistake: treating multiway pots like heads‑up spots (playing too loose).
   • Fix: tighten multiway ranges compared to heads‑up; be willing to shove preflop when your shove size is ≲ ~8× pot (rule of thumb: if your all‑in equals roughly 8× pot or less, you can have a shoving range because fold equity + pot incentives are strong).

Big blind defense and three‑bet construction

• Don’t overfold the big blind at depth (60bb+): it’s often more profitable to defend and play postflop out of position than to fold too frequently.
• When 3‑betting from the BB at depth:
  • Use a polar 3‑bet range and large sizing; avoid thin‑value 3‑bets from the BB (thin value out of position is costly).
  • Bluff 3‑bets should have postflop playability (e.g., suited connectors, J‑10, 10‑9 vs earlier opens; mid‑suited hands as opener gets later).
• As stacks get shallower (≈30bb and below), reduce non‑all‑in suited‑bluff 3‑bets — prefer shoves or calls.

Inflection points (shove vs 3‑bet / call)

• Early position: inflection ≈ 22bb — below this you’ll adopt a significant shoving range; around 25bb the shoving range drops off sharply.
• Middle position: similar threshold, with slightly more tolerance to shove.
• Small blind vs late opens: you can be comfortable shoving even up to ~40bb in some button‑open spots — position and the opener’s seat strongly affect your shove threshold.
• General rule: if your shove equates to ≲ ~8× the current pot preflop, it’s typically a reasonable shove candidate.

The “never three‑bet” (fun/obscure) spot

If a micro stack (very short blind) is left to act behind you and will shove with high frequency (e.g., ~80% of hands), do not three‑bet (0% 3‑bet). Calling preserves the chance that the micro stack reopens (shoves) and gets extremely good price; isolating now is difficult and creates awkward multiway dynamics. Octopi sims show the short blind can often get all‑in with a large portion of their range, so the best line is to call rather than 3‑bet — you want that short stack incentivized to shove/isolate.

• This dynamic holds regardless of concrete seat if the micro stack will shove nearly every time they get the opportunity.

Other practical Q&A takeaways (brief)

• ICM: tournament life changes many chip‑EV decisions — you’ll trap less and fold more when tournament life is at stake.
• UTG limp: treat as a special RFI. Your response depends on the limp strategy — vs a re‑raising limper use a more polarized approach; vs a passive limper go more linear and use larger sizing.
• Button flats vs UTG: buttons call more low/mid suited connectors to realize equity in position and add board coverage.
• If opener sizes up (bigger open), tighten calls; if the opener’s range stays wide, still defend but with tighter calling ranges.
• Three‑bet mixing: exact mix ratios are usually not critical in live/real play; adapt three‑bet composition by player tendencies (who 4‑bets, who folds).
• Pocket pairs as 3‑bets: fine at depth where postflop play is profitable; worse as you get shallow.

Implementation / practice (Octopi platform)

• Matt demonstrated Octopi “compare ranges” sims showing 30 / 60 / 100bb and multiple positional formations.
• Upcoming platform changes: an in‑site academy tab with daily drills, quizzes, and challenges (20‑rep quizzes; drills available to practice before quiz). Leaderboards and daily releases are intended to support focused practice.
• Slides will be shared in Discord on request.

Practical checklist to apply at the tables

• Always consider who remains to act (positional formation) before widening your response range.
• Ask: “Is there a micro stack behind me who will shove?” — if yes and it’s very likely, avoid 3‑betting.
• Choose 3‑bet style by stack:
  • Deep (60–100bb): more flats, polar 3‑bets including playable suited bluffs.
  • Mid (25–40bb): more polarized 3‑bets; keep flats for hands you want to realize equity.
  • Shallow (<25bb): favor shoves over non‑all‑in 3‑bets; be explicit about whether you’ll call or fold to a shove.
• Big blind: defend more at depth; avoid small linear 3‑bets for thin value — size big and polarize.
• Multiway pots: tighten, and be willing to shove to capture dead money when pricing is favorable (8× pot rule).

Gamers / sources featured

• Matt Hunt (host)
• Octtopi / Octopi Poker (platform / library / sims)
• George (referenced frequently — solver/agent in sims)
• Chat / participants referenced: Adam; Tyler; Steve; LVZ; Erin; Genie; “Team Elite” (chat name)
• Anecdotal reference to the World Series

End of summary.