Updated on April 30, 2025
Every person who plays poker recalls their initial experience. all-in It’s that thrilling moment when adrenaline surges, and palms become sweaty as players push all their chips into the pot. It’s a pivotal decision that could either double your chip count or lead to an early exit.
In the poker community, this intense moment has garnered its own poker term : the \"shove.\"
Whether you\"re a poker tournaments Whether you’re a grind enthusiast or a cash game expert, knowing when and how to make the shove can distinguish between exiting the game victorious or leaving with empty pockets.
Poker Poker is brimming with terminology, with many terms sharing similar meanings. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the term 'shove'.
What is a Shove in Poker?
In simple terms, a shove refers to going all-in, which is when you bet all your chips or money into the pot. Apparently, the phrases all-in, jam, push, I’ve got somewhere to be, and YOLO just didn’t suffice.
If you were to list the most frequently used terms for saying 'all-in,' shove would definitely rank high.
Example of \"shove\" used in a sentence:
'My opponent had been overly aggressive on the river, so we decided to make a shove to counter it.'
Strategic Applications of Shoving
Shoving is a potent play; often, it allows you to scoop the pot. So why not shove every hand? As the saying goes, 'It works every time until it doesn’t.'
In poker language, this signifies that eventually, a player will call your shove. If you lose, you’re out of the game! Frequent shoving reduces the likelihood of being taken seriously by your opponents regarding your strong hands. poker hand .
Overdoing your shoves might lead your opponents to start calling you down with weaker cards more often.
Think of executing a poker shove as wielding your most formidable weapon. It can greatly impact the game, but it’s crucial to deploy it at the right moments. If you overuse it, your opponents won’t fear or respect your aggression.
You can shove in no-limit types of poker games You can shove at any time for various strategic reasons, whether to solidify your stack or challenge your opponents.
Short and Big Stack Poker Shove
Typically, players make a shove when they have a limited number of chips (10 big blinds or fewer). With such a small stack, elaborate strategies aren’t viable. Players usually have to choose between going all-in or folding.
- For instance, if you have 10,000 chips in a tournament with blinds set at 500/1000/100 and you receive A♦️Q♠️, an all-in move often stands as the most advantageous strategy.
Conversely, players with larger stacks can shove to exert pressure on their opponents with shorter stacks, as those players risk their tournament survival.
Picture this: There are 40,000 chips in the pot, and you hold T♥️9♥️ on a T♦️J 2♥️5♦️ board. With 35,000 chips left, if your opponent with 150,000 chips goes all-in,♣️This situation places you in a challenging position, doesn’t it?
Knowing the optimal times to shove can optimize your stack usage, particularly if you can accrue blinds and antes without much resistance. By shoving, you also reduce the risk of losing chips unnecessarily by limping in or raising only to fold later.
Benefits of Strategic Poker Shove
For example, if you raise with A♥️T♣️ and the big blind calls, do you have a strategy ready for when the flop reveals 5♣️6♦️7♠️ and your opponent places a bet?
- Had you chosen to shove before the flop, you might have instantly claimed the blinds and antes. However, this way, you could be in danger of losing critical chips if you attempt to execute a
An open shove means being the first to enter the pot before the flop by going all-in. You kick off the action with your shove. poker bluff in this spot.
Types of Shoves in Poker
Open Shove
A re-shove is when you go all-in after another player has already committed all their chips. For instance, with blinds set at 200/400/50,
Re-Shove
Re-shoving is typically a technique used to isolate an opponent. It’s akin to an iso-raise, but you go all-in. In the previous example, if Lucia only calls, she risks inviting other players to join the hand. Yet, if she intends to confront Simpson heads-up, re-shoving discourages other players from participating. Ian Simpson shoves for 4,000 from the cutoff, and Lucia Navarro re-shoves to 12,000 from the button.
Re-shoving often points to a robust hand since the player executing the re-shove assumes that the initial shove came from a decent hand as well.
By shoving over the top, the player sending the re-shove sends a message to everyone that they possess a very strong hand or at least one they are confident to engage with.
Imagine a scenario where the UTG player (240,000 chips) raises to 25,000 holding K♥️J♥️. You’re in the hijack position with a stack of 500,000 chips and look down to see A♣️A♦️.
Back Shove
Rather than shoving right away, you might opt to call, hoping that a player with a short stack after you will shove. You plan to go all-in if the action heats up again.
Now envision that the small blind makes a shove for 50,000, with the UTG player also calling. This situation is an ideal spot for a back shove - you go all-in over the top.
Executing a back shove can be complex, but when successful, it often leads to a substantial pot. If you notice someone on your table pulling off a back shove, tread carefully; it typically indicates a very strong hand!
What distinguishes a shove from a standard all-in?
Poker Shove – FAQ
Is shoving reserved solely for urgent situations?
None. Shove is poker slang for all-in.
Not in the least! While players with small stacks often resort to it out of necessity, those with larger stacks also employ it strategically to pressure shorter stacks.
Is shoving only for desperate situations?
That would be shoving overly broad ranges or delaying too long to wait for a premium hand, like Aces.
Either shoving with a poker hand range Can I shove in cash games, or is it exclusive to tournaments?
While shoving is far more prevalent in tournaments, particularly as stack sizes dwindle relative to blinds, it can also occur in
How can I determine if my hand is strong enough for a shove? cash games , especially in big pots.
You should take into account three key factors: your hand strength, your position at the table, and your stack size. Strong hands (such as high pairs, AK, AQ) can shove from virtually any position, while weaker hands require more favorable positioning.
The lesser your stack becomes, the broader range of hands you can utilize for a shove.
Shoving hinges on optimal timing and maintaining a favorable table image.
The Final Word on Shove in Poker
Overusing it can make you predictable.
- However, if you underuse it, you might miss out on valuable opportunities to enhance your stack.
- Players who have an innate talent for knowing when to unleash an all-in often bring their skills to an exceptional level. They can gauge their opponents, analyze the dynamics of the game, and trust their instincts when the time feels right.
The best poker players of all time So, the next time you’re at the table contemplating your next move, keep in mind that sometimes the most impactful decision is to shove and see how the cards unfold. calculating pot odds Just ensure you choose the right moment to launch your most powerful shot.
Frederico, an avid poker enthusiast and player, shares intriguing topics related to this game on our blog. Expect to find articles about strategies, tips, news, and interesting facts regularly on 888Poker.
888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white
Originally published on October 10, 2018