Online 100BB Deep Stack: 4-bet or Go All-In? Strategy Discussion

A player posted on Reddit's r/poker subreddit, sharing their experience on Fanduel Poker and raising a common deep-stacked strategy dilemma: at 100BB effective stack depth, should you just shove after a 4bet?

Key points from the original post:

• The player admits they may not 4bet frequently enough.
• The game starts with 100BB stacks.
• Typical 3bet sizing is 10-12BB, and 4bet is around 30BB.
• If the opponent calls, especially when there is a cold caller, the remaining stack post-flop is roughly one pot-sized bet.
• The player questions: Is it reasonable to shove instead of 4bet? Especially when there is a cold caller in between.
• However, they worry that when holding a strong hand, shoving directly loses value.

Strategy Analysis

This issue is a classic discussion in deep-stacked cash games. At 100BB depth, the standard 4bet sizing is usually 2.5-3x the opponent's 3bet, i.e., about 25-36BB. As described in the original post, after a 4bet, the pot is around 60-70BB (including blinds and possible cold calls), with about 70BB left behind, making the pot-to-stack ratio post-flop nearly 1:1.

At this point, choosing to shove is essentially an overbet, effectively discouraging opponents from calling, especially when there is a cold caller in between. Shoving directly can isolate and simplify the situation. The cost, however, is that when holding premium hands like AA/KK, you may fail to extract additional value from weaker hands; if the opponent holds QQ/JJ or AK, they may fold, leading to a loss of potential profit.

On the other hand, with a standard 4bet, the remaining stack post-flop is just right for a pot-sized bet, making it suitable for a "range bet" strategy. But if the board texture is unfavorable, it could lead to complex situations.

Common Approaches

• Example: If you hold AA and face an aggressive 3bet, 4bet to 30BB, and the opponent calls. The flop comes K-7-2 rainbow. You have about 70BB behind and the pot is 70BB, so you can easily bet around 40BB and prepare to get all in. If you shoved preflop instead, the opponent might fold hands like AQ or AJ, but might call with QQ or AK. Overall value may not be higher.
• For medium-strength hands like AK or QQ, after a 4bet and missing the flop, the remaining stack can be slightly awkward, but a continuation bet can still apply pressure.
• If there is a cold caller in between, the pot swells, and the cold caller's range is usually weaker. Shoving directly can effectively deny them the right to see a flop and put pressure on the original 3bettor.

In summary, this decision depends on opponent type, range balance, and post-flop skills. Typically, a mixed strategy is superior: some strong hands can be 4bet, some can be shoved, while also incorporating some bluff shoves (e.g., A5s) for balance. However, at 100BB depth, direct shoving is more for specific scenarios rather than a substitute for all 4bets.