All-in
Action Level · Beginner Aliases: shove, jam, push
Going all-in means putting every remaining chip you have into the pot.
What is All-in
All-in means committing every chip in front of you in a single action. If other players have more, the excess does not have to be matched by the short stack: the main pot only holds what everyone could contribute equally, and the remainder forms one or more side pots. An all-in can be a bet, a raise or the result of a call, it does not mean the hand is strong, and it does not stop the remaining community cards from being dealt. Before committing, consider the effective stack, the pot odds, your opponent’s range and the risk in a tournament. Being able to rebuy in a cash game is not a reason to ignore expected value, and busting a tournament costs more, with the payout structure adding further weight.
On the felt
TableCash games and tournaments
PositionAll positions
FlopAny street
ActionCommit the full remaining effective stack
Example
You have 40BB left and announce all-in. You only need that 40BB to contest the main pot against a deeper opponent. If another deep-stacked player keeps betting, the excess goes into a side pot.
Common mistakes
- Thinking all-in wins every chip on the table. You can only win the main pot and the side pots you had chips to match.
- Assuming an all-in means the nuts. Players shove with value hands, semi-bluffs and pure bluffs alike, so the range still has to be read.
Related terms
Bluff
A bluff is a bet made with a weak hand, aiming to make better hands fold.
Call
Calling means matching the current bet to stay in the hand.
Check
Checking means passing the action without putting in chips when there is no bet to face.
Check-Raise
A check-raise means checking first, then raising after an opponent bets on the same street.
Continuation Bet
A continuation bet is a bet on the flop by the player who raised last before it.
Fold
Folding gives up your hand and any claim to the pot, ending your involvement in it.