CI-sequences and almost complete intersections

We study the Hilbert function and the graded Betti numbers of almost complete intersection artinian algebras. We show that that every Hilbert function of a complete intersection artinian algebra is the Hilbert function of an almost complete intersection algebra. In codimension 3 we focus on almost complete intersection artinian algebras whose Hilbert function coincides with that of a complete intersection defined by 3 forms of the same degree. We classify all the possible graded Betti numbers of such algebras and we specify what cancellations are allowed in a minimal graded free resolution.