POSTFLOP ARCHETYPE · AsAhAd

Trips flop strategy — A A A on the flop

Trips on the flop — boards like A A A or 8 8 8 — are equity-extreme textures. The vast majority of both ranges have nothing (no pair, no draw), while a small slice has trips (one card matching the rank) and an even smaller slice has the case quads or full house. In single-raised pots both players check at high frequency (>80% from each side), and the betting range is heavily polarized between trips (small value bet) and pure bluffs (air with the best blocker). 3-bet pots behave differently — see the scenario notes below — because the 3-bettor's range hits trips much more often.

Range equity by scenario

ScenarioIP equityOOP equity
BTN open · BB call · SRP · 100bb54.0%46.3%
CO open · BB call · SRP · 100bb54.4%46.2%
SB 3-bet · BTN call · 3BP · 100bb42.1%59.5%

Solver action mixes

BTN open · BB call · SRP · 100bb

BTN holds the rare quad (3% of combos contain the case card) and trips slightly more often than BB. C-bet at low frequency — small sizing with trips, occasional polar overbet with quads and pure air.

IP action mix

  • Bet 33%: 67.4%
  • Bet 75%: 4.0%
  • Check: 28.6%

Range equity: 54.0%

OOP action mix

  • Check (plan x/r): 91.7%
  • Donk 25%: 2.3%
  • Check-raise plan: 6.0%

Range equity: 46.3%

CO open · BB call · SRP · 100bb

CO has slightly more Ax in range than BTN, edging trips frequency up. Otherwise identical shape.

IP action mix

  • Bet 33%: 67.6%
  • Bet 75%: 4.0%
  • Check: 28.4%

Range equity: 54.4%

OOP action mix

  • Check (plan x/r): 91.0%
  • Donk 25%: 2.3%
  • Check-raise plan: 6.7%

Range equity: 46.2%

SB 3-bet · BTN call · 3BP · 100bb

3-bet pots on AAA are weird — SB's 3-bet range hits trips with ~12% of combos (AKs+ value range). C-bet frequency is the highest of any scenario here (~45%) at small sizing because the made hand advantage is overwhelming.

IP action mix

  • Bet 33%: 60.3%
  • Bet 75%: 4.0%
  • Check: 35.7%

Range equity: 42.1%

OOP action mix

  • Check (plan x/r): 80.9%
  • Donk 25%: 4.7%
  • Check-raise plan: 14.3%

Range equity: 59.5%

Frequently asked

Why don't we bet more often on AAA?

Because almost nothing in either range can profitably call a bet. The caller folds almost everything, and the rare trips you bet against will only call (not raise) most of the time. Checking allows the rare strong made hand in the caller's range to make a mistake on the turn.

Should I overbet AAA flops?

Rarely, and only with quads or pure air. Trips wants to extract small value over multiple streets, not blast pot with one big bet that folds out the only hands that could pay.