Summary of "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)
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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.
-
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.
-
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.
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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.
-
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.
Category
Gaming
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