How do you play pocket threes?

Pocket threes is one of the smallest pairs, a near-pure set-mining hand you open from late position and otherwise play very carefully.

Pocket Threes

Speculative

53.7%

Equity vs a random hand

6

Combos (of 1,326)

2/5

Seats that open it

Open it from the button and small blind, where stealing the blinds adds value on top of the set-mining. Calling a raise needs deep stacks and a good price, because the only way threes win a big pot is by flopping a set. Outside of that, the pair is almost always behind the moment another player shows interest.

In the GTO solver's 6-max ranges this hand opens for a raise from the button and the small blind, and sometimes from UTG, the hijack and the cutoff.

Common mistake: Treating it like a real made hand after the flop. A pair of threes is at the bottom of the pile, so calling down with it is rarely a winning play.

Quick tip: Flop a set or fold. There is very little middle ground with the small pairs.