What It Really Means to 'Go All In' in Poker

There are a bunch of poker terms we’ve already covered which can often be overwhelming when you’re new to the game. The thing is, there’s a fine line many new poker players struggle to find, like the term “go all in” which is actually used in a lot of common pop culture references and in the mainstream lexicon.

The origin of the phrase is actually a move in poker that you probably might have known or didn’t know– but today, we’re going to unpack this. Where did this term really come from? What does it mean to go “all in”? And when should you go all in?

What Does Going All In Mean?

The act of “going all in” simply pertains to when a player commits all of the chips in front of them to the current pot. The total number of chips a player began the hand with is the maximum amount they can use to go all in.

The maximum amount you can add to the pot is $200 if you begin a hand with $200 on the table. For example, even if you know you have a powerful hand, you cannot opt to take an additional $100 out of your pocket and put it in the pot.

It's typical to refer to going all in as jamming, pushing, or shoving. You double up, doubling your chips, if you go all in, win the hand, and get called by one of your opponents.

When is it considered good to go all in?

As a strong commitment to your hand and your strategy, going "all in" is one of the most exciting moves in poker. But when is the ideal time to pull out this bold move? Knowing when to strike can mean the difference between a crushing defeat and a victorious victory.

To help you master this high-stakes move in the game of poker, we'll examine the psychological and strategic considerations that come into play when opting to go all in. i.

When you only have one chip

When you only have one chip, skilled players may gently declare, "all in," and place that single chip in the center. They are betting their entire stack, so don't be fooled into believing they are just wagering one chip.

This strategic move can often be a bluff or a desperate attempt to stay in the game, making it a pivotal moment to observe your opponents closely. If you're unclear about anything, you may always ask the dealer, "Are they all in?" to ensure you understand the stakes and make informed decisions. Recognizing these subtle cues can significantly impact your gameplay and decision-making process.

When your hand could be revealed

Get ready for your cards to be turned over so that everyone can view them if an opponent calls your all-in wager. Dealers in poker tournaments will always deal cards face up. Although this isn't often done in cash games, most casinos have a regulation allowing any player at the table to declare "all hands" and reveal the cards. More often than not, this happens depending on the player’s move.

When side pots are made

When a player in a hand with three or more chips goes all in, the other players in the hand compete for a side pot. The main pot is $300, for instance, if the button goes all in for $100 and both blinds call with $200 apiece.

Next, with any additional bets, the two blinds battle for a side pot. The player that goes all in can win up to $300 in triples if they win the main pot and not the side pot.

Even if it’s smaller than the wager’s size

You still have the option to call the bet by going all in if someone bets $80 and you only have $60. You are now limited to winning more than your initial investment. For instance, you would gain $120 (your $60 wager plus your opponent's $60 wager, minus their additional $20) if you win the hand.

Creating a Side Pot After an All-In

Let's use the same illustration. An 80-dollar wager is made. Despite the fact that you only have $60, you decide to risk everything on your stack, but another player in the hand calls the entire $80 bet. After that, the dealer will choose a major pot and a side pot.

There will be $180 in the main pot ($60 x 3 players). Since the other two have more chips left, the side pot will be shared by them alone. Since you wouldn't have made a contribution to the side pot, you could only win the main pot.

Why Does it Count for You to Go All In?

It makes logical sense to frequently go all in when you have low chips compared to the pot in both cash games and tournaments. Only go all in on the river with great hands (hoping for a call) or bad hands (hoping for a fold), with your hand completely committed.

For instance, bluff with Queen-Ten or go all in with a straight for value. Steer clear of all-ins with weak hands like Ace-Eight. This tactic balances your strongest and weakest hands while applying pressure to your opponent.

When you aim to pressure those on short stacks during a tournament

When you have one of the huge stacks in the latter stages of a tournament, you are in a dominant position. It's possible that the shorter stacks are holding out for another player to bust in an attempt to climb the payout ladder.

As a large stack, you can bet everything when the smaller stacks are trailing you. If the short stacks are using an ideal ICM strategy, they will almost certainly be forced to fold when the money spikes in a tournament start to get larger.

All in, baby!