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Casino Terms Glossary
All-in — is a wager where a player commits their entire chip stack on a single bet, most commonly in poker and some no‑limit table games. It puts all remaining funds at risk for maximum pressure and potential payoff, shaping pot odds, opponent decisions, and the overall pace of casino gambling action.
Understanding All In
In gambling, All-in meaning is staking 100% of your remaining chips so you can’t bet further that hand; if others cover you, side pots may form. The All-in definition in casino poker caps your liability to chips already pushed while keeping you eligible for the main pot. This term matters because it concentrates variance, changes pot odds and fold equity, and shapes tournament life decisions. At 101RTP, our reviews, Slot Simulator, and Bonus Value Score help you plan risk, understand variance, and align shove-or-fold choices with your bankroll.
Examples of All In
Common situations where a player goes all-in include:
- Short-stack shove in a tournament. With 10 big blinds or fewer, you move all-in preflop to maximize fold equity and avoid being blinded out.
- Value shove with a monster. On the river holding the nuts, you push all-in to extract maximum chips from calling ranges.
- Bluff shove as pressure. You overbet shove to make opponents fold medium-strength hands when stack sizes and board texture favor you.
- Call off versus aggression. You call an opponent’s all-in with a premium hand or strong draw when your equity and pot odds justify it.
FAQs
What is All-in in casino poker?
All-in is when you wager all your remaining chips on a single hand, so you can’t put more in afterward. In this gambling term, your risk is capped at that stack while you remain eligible for the main pot. This action changes pot odds, fold equity, and the pressure other players feel.
How do side pots work when a player goes all-in?
If a short-stacked player goes all-in and others continue betting, a main pot is created with amounts all players matched. Any extra betting between deeper stacks forms a separate side pot only those players can win. The all-in player can win the main pot but not the side pot.
Can going all-in be a profitable strategy?
Yes, when your fold equity plus hand equity exceeds the risk, shoving is profitable. Short stacks use push/fold charts; deep stacks shove to apply maximum pressure or extract value. At 101RTP, our strategy guides and tools help you weigh variance and bankroll so you aren’t gambling beyond sustainable limits.
Is All-in the same in cash games and tournaments?
Mechanically it’s the same, but incentives differ. In cash games, chips equal money and you can rebuy, so edges rely on pot odds and ranges. In tournaments, survival has value (ICM), making some calls tighter and some shoves wider. The same action has different risk-reward profiles by format.
Do casino rules limit when you can go all-in?
Most no-limit and pot-limit poker games allow all-ins anytime it’s your turn, but house rules govern minimum buy-ins, bet procedures, and string-bet prevention. Check the casino’s rule sheet or our 101RTP casino reviews to see variations that affect stack depth, rebuys, and whether running it twice is permitted.
Why does stack size matter before an all-in?
Stack size drives fold equity, pot odds, and leverage. Short stacks gain fold equity by threatening their entire stack; deep stacks can polarize ranges and pressure opponents’ tournament life. Understanding effective stacks ensures your All-in meaning aligns with correct risk, not emotion. Right sizing turns marginal spots into +EV decisions.
How do I calculate if calling an all-in is correct?
Compare pot odds to your hand’s equity against the shover’s range. If your equity exceeds the break-even threshold, the call is profitable; if not, fold. Use combo counting or equity tools, and track results to refine ranges. This turns the All-in definition into a clear, math-driven decision.
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