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?

WhyThree-bet. Short-handed you must fight back with three-bets, not just call - against a wide, aggressive button, a re-steal with A-7 suited folds out much of his range, and the ace-blocker plus playability are ideal. Flatting out of position is too passive against a relentless stealer.
What happensYou three-bet; the button folds.  Fight back with three-bets.
Short-handed against aggressive stealers, three-betting (not just calling) is how you fight back - a suited ace re-steal applies pressure and has equity when called.

Three-bet to fight back short-handed - against frequent stealers, re-stealing with blocker hands beats passively calling out of position.