3-bet pots out of position against the button often produce boards where neither player has a clean range advantage. This hand is a good example of how GTO handles those spots by emphasizing passivity early, then shifting gears when equity concentrates. Holding A♥J♠ in the small blind after three-betting the button, Hero follows a solver-approved line that balances pot control with timely aggression.

Assumptions

• Stacks: 100bb effective
• Positions: SB (Hero) vs BTN (Villain)
• Action: BTN opens, SB 3-bets, BTN calls
• Flop: Q♣ J♦ 8♣ (Pot 24.5bb)
• Turn: J♥ (Pot 36.7bb)
• River: 3♠ (Pot 55.1bb)

Flop: Q♣ J♦ 8♣

This is a very dynamic board with straight potential, two high cards, and a flush draw. Solver output reflects the lack of a clear range or nut advantage by mixing aggressively: SB bets at meaningful frequency but also checks 26.7% of the time. Hero checks, which fits solver logic for medium-strength poker hands that benefit from pot control on volatile textures.

When BTN bets small for 6.1bb, solver strongly prefers continuing rather than raising. Calling appears 71.4% of the time, while raises are kept at very low frequency. With A♥J♠, raising would fold out worse hands and isolate against stronger value and strong draws. Calling allows Hero to realize equity while keeping BTN’s range wide.

Turn: J♥

The turn dramatically improves Hero to trips. Solver now shifts from passivity to aggression, betting 75.2% of the time, overwhelmingly favoring the small 9.2bb sizing. Checking still exists, but betting is clearly preferred because BTN is unlikely to put money in often if checked to.

Hero’s 9.2bb lead aligns directly with GTO strategy. This sizing charges draws and extracts value from Qx and weaker Jx without polarizing too early. BTN responds by calling 62.2%, folding 29.5%, and raising infrequently, which keeps Hero in a strong position heading to the river.

River: 3♠

The river bricks all major draws and does not change hand rankings. PeakGTO shows SB checking most often (64.6%), but when betting, strongly prefers the large 72.7bb sizing (32.7%). Smaller bets appear at negligible frequency.

Hero chooses the overbet, which is solver-approved with strong value hands. The logic is straightforward: missed draws will not pay smaller bets, so value must be extracted from made hands that are strong enough to call but not strong enough to raise. BTN responds by calling 39.1% and folding 60.9%, matching the solver’s expectation that this sizing targets a narrow but profitable calling range.

Key Takeaways

• Flop: On highly dynamic boards in three-bet pots, solver mixes checks and bets. Medium-strength hands like A♥J♠ prefer checking and calling rather than raising.
• Turn: When equity shifts heavily in Hero’s favor, solver moves to frequent aggression, using small bets to extract value and deny equity.
• River: On brick runouts, solver polarizes. Large overbets outperform smaller sizings because only strong hands will pay anyway.
• Overall: GTO strategy here is about timing. Stay passive when ranges are wide and unstable, then apply maximum pressure once your equity advantage is clear.