Part: Part Eleven - Short Tables

Three-betting short-handed

Pre-flop
5-handed • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 3,000 (3.8 BB)BBA♠7♠● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUto actBTN● 20,000 (25 BB)Aggressive buttonraises 1,800 (2.2 BB)SBfoldsD

Five-handed. An aggressive button opens to 1,800 and you're in the big blind with A♠7♠.

Five-handed, aggressive button opens; you hold A♠7♠ in the BB. Best?

WhyThis button opens far too often to respect a flat call, and out of position you'd be guessing on most flops. A-7 suited re-steals cleanly: the ace blocks his strong aces, you fold out the junk he's raising, and you keep a hand that flushes and pairs when he continues - so make it a three-bet.
What happensHe calls, the flop bricks, and you check-fold when he barrels - the re-steal didn't get through this time. It's still right: against his stealing frequency the three-bet profits, and flatting away that edge would cost you more over the long run.
Flat-calling out of position lets an aggressive button dictate every hand; three-betting takes the reins back. A re-steal that gets called and misses is still a winning play - you're paid on the folds you generate, not on any single result.

Against a relentless stealer, a three-bet reclaims the initiative that calling out of position gives away.