Someone Raised: When to 3-Bet, Call or Fold Preflop (Three Charts You Will Use Every Session)

Opening charts tell you what to do when nobody has entered the pot. But most of the hands that cost money start with someone else raising first. Here are the three spots that come up every session, and what the chart says for each.

The idea: who raised matters more than what you hold

A raise from the first seat at the table comes from a tight range, so you need a strong hand to continue. A raise from the button comes from nearly half the deck, so you can fight back with a lot more. Your hand did not change. Their range did.

Spot 1: You are in position against an early raise

Share of hands to continue: about 8%. Re-raise (3-bet) with QQ, KK, AA, AK suited and offsuit, plus A5 suited and A4 suited as bluffs that can make the nut flush or a wheel. Call with the medium pairs (22 through JJ), ATs and better, KJs and better, QJs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQ offsuit and KQ offsuit. Fold everything else, including AJ offsuit and KQ suited, which feel strong and are not against a tight range.

Spot 2: You are in position against a late raise

Share of hands to continue: about 16%. The cutoff or button opens wide, so 3-bet more for value and add bluffs: TT and better, AJs and better, KQs, AQ and AK offsuit, A2s through A5s, K9s, 76s and 65s. Call with the smaller pairs, A9s and ATs, KTs and KJs, QTs and better, J9s and better, T8s and better, 97s and better, 86s and better, 75s and better, AJ offsuit, KQ, KJ and QJ offsuit.

Spot 3: You are in the big blind and the button raises

Share of hands to continue: about 39%, and it should feel like a lot. You already have money in the pot, you get a discount to call, and you close the action, so nobody can re-raise behind you. 3-bet with TT and better, AJs and better, AQ and AK offsuit, A2s through A5s, and a set of suited connectors and one-gappers (K9s, Q9s, J9s, 86s, 75s, 65s, 54s) as bluffs. Call with nearly every suited hand, every pair, every offsuit ace, K8 offsuit and better, Q9o, J9o and T9o.

How to read a "facing a raise" chart

These charts have two colors instead of one. Green is 3-bet, blue is call, dark is fold. When a hand is green it means re-raise, usually to about three times the open when in position and closer to four from the blinds. When a hand is blue, call and play the flop.

Common leaks these charts fix

• Calling raises with dominated hands like KJ offsuit against an early raiser. You are behind AK, AQ, KQ and every pair, and when you hit a king you lose a big pot.
• Never 3-betting as a bluff. If you only re-raise with aces and kings, observant players fold every time and you never get paid. A few suited aces and connectors fix that.
• Folding the big blind too much. Against a button raise, folding two-thirds of your hands hands the button free money every orbit.

Use them mid-hand

In the PokerSweepStars app the Charts button on every training screen opens these charts in a drawer, so a scenario that says "the cutoff raises, you are on the button" is one tap from the exact chart. The coach also links to the matching chart whenever it explains a range. The charts are free in the app on the App Store, Google Play, or in the browser.