Going All In - is that a good poker strategy?

Going all-in is a strategy often used in no limit poker. It is a good way to quickly double up your chips in case you win, but this kind of play is a double edged weapon since in case you lose, it can also kick you out of the game instantly. This strategy is adopted many times by aggressive players who use it to put pressure on their opponents. And since it is a lot harder to call an all-in bet than to make one, many people will fold to it. But because poker is a situational game and you assume a fairly large risk by playing this way, you should always consider carefully before making your decision. In the case of online poker it is much harder to read your opponent, because you don't see his face and gestures.

One of the most common reasons for going all-in is to scare another player out of the pot. This will work well in case you have a tight table image and your opponents will think you hit a big hand when you use this strategy, putting a lot of psychological pressure on them, and possibly turning the situation in your favor. You should always think about the kind of player types you are up against and the size of their chip stacks before making your all-in move, because if an opponent with more chips and a better ranking hand calls you, you will be out of the game. If you are not sure that you hold the best hand or you think that a larger raise will also do the job and make the other player fold, then it is best not to risk your entire stack. In case you misinterpreted the situation and someone was laying you a trap, you will still get hit pretty hard, but at least you have the opportunity to win some of it back later on in the game.

In tournaments, players whose stacks are getting short will go all-in to try stealing the blinds and increase the number of their chips. In this situation it is necessary to use the strategy because if you wait to long, the blinds will eat up the remainder of your stack. Most players get pretty nervous when their chip count is low, so make sure that your emotions are under control and that you make this decision with your head, on a rational basis. Going all-in before the flop in the early stages of the tournament, in an attempt to double your chips is probably not a good idea. Your opponents will easily figure out that you have a big hand, and the only ones that will call you are those who have even better cards, so you risk busting out from the start. At early stages, the best thing you can do is to play tight, without any unnecessary risks, and watch how other players eliminate each other. When you reach the final tables, the all-in strategy will have better results. If you have played tight until then, the others will think you hold the nuts when you commit all your chips, and you will probably be able to steal a few blinds even with weaker hands.

Going all-in should be a move that you start using when you have gained a certain amount of experience playing poker. Some beginners think that they can bully other players with this tactics, and employ it too often. You should be aware of the fact that if you are regarded as a loose player and you give off many tells then others will take advantage of you when you play by this strategy. A tight player with some amount of experience will be able to send you home quickly, especially if you choose to bluff with all-in, without holding any hand that would qualify for getting the pot. You should never risk your entire stash when the pot is not worth it. This is a risky strategy that is only worth using when the rewards are high, and risking everything for a small win will make your opponents think that you are nothing but a bully who hopes to scare everyone away with excessive aggression. Moving all your chips in to gain a small pot quickly will probably backfire once the other players have read your intentions, so make sure that you only use this once you are pretty confident that you are not giving away any tells in order to avoid trouble. Remember that the poker players you have seen on TV have years of experience behind them and that they have carefully weighed the situation before they take the step of going all-in, even if it seems they are doing it without much reflection. The important thing is to make the right decisions according to the situation and your opponents, and imitating your idols in that individual case might not be the best idea.

Going all-in, along with bluffing is one of the most exciting parts of a poker game, and the moments when a player truly feels the rush of adrenaline that goes with taking chances and gambling. If you do not forget that the point of the game is to make money, not to show off your skills, than after some practice you will surely know when the time comes to make this move, and you will be able to gain large pots by using it.