Carrot Poker School: Grade 3
Carrot Poker School: Grade 3 offers a complete learning experience for players who have mastered intermediate poker strategies and are eager to explore the finer aspects of poker theory. The course focuses on advanced techniques designed to refine decision-making and offer deeper insights into poker strategy, allowing players to approach the game with an elite mindset.
One of the primary areas covered is advanced range construction, where students learn to build optimal ranges for calling, raising, or folding in various situations. Rather than playing a hand based solely on its strength, players must factor in numerous considerations, such as opponent tendencies, stack size, and table position. An understanding of how to adjust ranges based on changing conditions allows a player to approach hands with flexibility and sophistication. This section also explores the concept of blockers—how cards in a player’s hand may affect the likelihood of an opponent holding a certain hand, providing advantages when deciding whether to bluff or make a value bet.
Building on this foundation, the course also covers the complex art of betting and checking range construction. Deciding when to bet and when to check is not as simple as it may first appear. Factors such as board texture, opponent behavior, and hand strength all contribute to the optimal decision. Advanced players need to adjust their approach based on these considerations, knowing when to mix in checks to maintain balance and prevent being read too easily.
Handling aggression is another core theme, as many successful poker players use aggressive strategies to pressure opponents. A deeper understanding of defensive strategies is necessary for those looking to counter tactics. One important element here is selecting bluff catchers—hands that, while not strong enough to raise, may be good enough to call an opponent’s aggressive bets. Knowing when to defend in this way, and how to adjust your own aggression levels, is a vital skill for navigating high-level play.
Another aspect of advanced poker is the use of bet sizing as a tool to manipulate the flow of the game. Players can exploit the full range of bet sizes—large or small—depending on the situation. Overbets can force opponents into tough spots, while underbets may induce action from hands that might otherwise fold. Understanding the psychology behind different bet sizes and when to deploy them maximizes value and minimizes risk. The skillful use of bet sizing plays a central role in both value extraction and bluffing strategies, especially in complex scenarios.
A particular focus is placed on triple barreling, a technique in which a player makes three consecutive aggressive bets across the flop, turn, and river. This strategy requires a solid grasp of expected value (EV) calculations and hand reading. Triple barreling can be a powerful way to pressure opponents, but it also carries risks. Being able to accurately assess when a triple barrel will likely result in a profit is the mark of a high-level player.
Post-flop play, especially in scenarios involving 3-bet and 4-bet pots, is another area covered extensively in this course. In 3-bet pots, players need to understand how to defend against an opponent’s aggression while maintaining a balance between continuing with strong hands and folding weaker ones. Meanwhile, 4-bet pots require a more nuanced understanding of ranges, with players needing to be selective about their actions to avoid committing too many chips to hands that may not have strong post-flop potential.
The stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) is another key concept explored in the course. This ratio helps players make decisions about how much to bet based on the relationship between stack size and pot size. A low SPR often leads to decisions that focus on commitment and straightforward play, whereas a high SPR creates more opportunities for manipulation and strategic depth.
The goal of Carrot Poker School: Grade 3 is to move beyond basic poker knowledge and into advanced territory, where players can read situations, build ranges, and adjust their strategy fluidly to counter opponents’ moves. Through the study of these techniques, students develop the ability to approach poker with a strategic mindset, making calculated decisions that maximize long-term profitability. With each of these lessons, players are equipped with the knowledge and skill needed to outperform even the most experienced opponents.
11 Videos | 10 Hours
Carrot Poker School: Grade 3 – Course Syllabus
- Advanced Range Construction 1: Calling, Raising and Folding.
- Advanced Range Construction 2: Checking and Betting.
- Important Blocker Effects. Blocking/Unblocking Folding Ranges.
- The Five Types of Flop Raise. The Three Types of Turn Raise. Playing Turn After Raising Flop.
- Handling Aggression. Bluff Catcher Selection. Board Texture. Range Width and Bluff Catching.
- Extreme Bet Sizing. Overbets. Underbets. Mastering River Sizing.
- Triple Barreling. Bluffing EV. Hyper Polar vs. Hyper Condensed Situations.
- Properly Protected Checking Ranges. Slowplaying and Blockers. SPR Considerations.
- Defending 3Bet Pots: Flop Play. Donk-Betting. Jamming Turns.
- 4-Bet Pots: Attacking and Defending. Call Only Strategies. Turn Play.
