All in Q

[Twig Hunter]

Okay, The the player right of me has the next to the lowest chip count (im the lowest) and says 'All in' right after the first two cards are dealt, before the flop- can I still call even though I don't have enough chips to call his 'all in' move or is it a forced fold for me?

[HalfSugar]

You can always call no matter how low u r on chips. Side pots get involved, here is how it works:

We're talking directly after the flop here for argument's sake;
Let's say YOU have $500
Let's say HE has $800
Everyone else has more.

He says all-in and pushes in 800, you call with your 500. You can only win the same amount that u have staked off each player and no more. So from the guy with 800, u can only win 500 and the remaining 300 goes in a side pot. You sit back and enjoy the show while the others carry on.

When it passes to the guy next to you, the bet is at 800 (not 500) and he can call, raise or fold. If he calls, 500 of his 800 call goes in the side pot and 300 goes in the new main pot. That carries on til all is even.

At the showdown, if YOU win, u ONLY win the side pot (which is equivalant to $500 off all participating players) and the NEXT BEST hand wins the main pot. If you do not win, then both pots are up for grabs. The side pot is only kept separate in case some1 who could not match an earlier bet wins at the showdown.

I hope that helps

[AlicanteKid]

Actually, if you call all-in for less than the bet like in your example, the pot that you can win is referred to as the MAIN pot, not the SIDE pot. The side pots are any new pots that are created if someone is all in but there are other players still in the hand who can continue betting.

[MasterShake]

Actually, if you call all-in for less than the bet like in your example, the pot that you can win is referred to as the MAIN pot, not the SIDE pot. The side pots are any new pots that are created if someone is all in but there are other players still in the hand who can continue betting.

I was going to say the same thing, but was afraid that Geno, in a fit of unbridled rage, would ban my ass.

[golddog]

Good one, meatwad...

There's been a bit of confusion over this in games I play in too. Sure, it's just semantics, but think of it this way...

Every hand that's played has a main pot by definition. Clearly, then, side pots are what are created in these unusual circumstances.