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Poker Term

MP 100bb Defense

MP 100bb Defense

Term: Middle Position 100 Big Blind Defense MP 100bb Defense With a stack depth of 100 big blinds, the defensive strategy of calling or re-raising taken by the middle position player when facing an early position raise.

Overview

MP 100bb Defense refers to the range and strategy of a player in middle position (Middle Position, MP) who chooses to call or 3-bet (re-raise) to defend their blind or continue playing when facing an open raise from an early position (e.g., UTG or UTG+1) at a standard stack depth of 100 big blinds (100bb). This term is commonly used in deep-stack cash games or early stages of tournaments.

Strategy Key Points

Defending Range

  • Generally, the defending range in MP is wider than in early positions, but still requires avoiding playing too many marginal hands. Typical defending hands include:

3-bet vs. Call Considerations

  • 3-bet: Used for value (e.g., TT+, AQ+) or as a bluff (e.g., small pairs, suited connectors) against a wider raising range.
  • Call: Appropriate for medium-strength hands or those with good implied odds, especially suited connectors or small pairs, to see a flop.

Positional Factors

MP is in a middle position, so post-flop play must account for actions from remaining players. Defending here requires caution. Calling may lead to a squeeze from late position, forcing a fold; 3-betting can reduce the risk of multi-way pots.

Relationship with Stack Depth

At 100bb depth, implied odds are deep, making speculative hands more viable. As stacks become shallower (e.g., <50bb), the defending range should tighten, favoring all-in or fold strategies.

Common Mistakes

  • Over-defending: Calling or 3-betting too frequently with weak hands, leading to difficult post-flop situations.
  • Ignoring late-position squeezes: If late-position players often squeeze after a call, it may be better to 3-bet more or fold.

Summary

MP 100bb Defense is a fundamental strategy in deep-stack cash games, requiring players to dynamically adjust their range based on opponent tendencies, position, and hand strength to maximize expected value.

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