All-in Poker

Full user-friendly description of rules for all-in poker. Includes detailed instructions for calling, betting, exposing cards plus how to deal with situations involving multiple players

Seeing a player go “all-in” in a round of poker can be extremely exciting. Going “all-in” means that a player risks his entire stack. The original concept was developed by rich players wanting to oust some of their smaller opponents from the poker table A series of strict rules were therefore developed in order to regulate the play.

Origins

Before the invention of the “all-in” principle, players followed a rule known as “table stakes”. This stipulated that a player may only bet the amount of money or chips on the table when the hand began. The aim was to prevent players from betting their cars, property and even spouses in the heat of the moment. The “all-in” rule was subsequently introduced to deal with a situation in which a player bets all his chips against an opponent with a smaller amount of money on the table.

Rules

1. Calling
• Even if you have very little, you can call with the remainder of your chips
• Using all your chips means that you are calling “all-in”
• You can only win as much as your call allows

1. Additional Players
• This makes the strategy more complicated
• The basic principle is that each player must match as much as their opponent’s bet as possible
• The smallest bet places chips in the “main pot”. The second smallest matches the other players’ bets with whatever he has to create a side pot.

2. Bets
• If a player chooses to go “all-in” for below half the value of a full raise, his bet will not impact on the betting options
• E.g. a players bets $100. Another goes all in for $125 and another calls. The first player is not allowed to raise again but the last player could choose to raise instead of simply calling.

3. Showing Cards
• There is no penalty for showing cards once a player is all-in/called.
• Revealing cards whilst a player is choosing whether to go all-in, however warrants a penalty.
• Most card rooms will not allow you to expose cards in order to influence the play.

4. Rebuys
• If you are playing in a Rebuy tournament and have lost all your chips, you will be allowed to purchase more so long as you are within the assigned period.
• You will have to make your purchase immediately and are not allowed to leave the table and return.