Calling all-ins in tournaments: which hands to call with
Calling an all-in in a tournament is different from cash. If you lose, you may be out — or crippled. If you win, you add chips, but chips you win are worth less than chips you lose near the money. So you need a stronger hand to call than to shove.
Three questions
Section titled “Three questions”- What’s the price? If you’re in the big blind and someone shoves 10bb, you only need to call 9bb more into a pot of about 12bb+ (with antes). You may need just 35–40% equity. See pot odds.
- What’s their range? A short stack on the button shoves very wide; a tight player under the gun shoves strong hands. See push/fold.
- What happens if I lose? If calling and losing knocks you out near the bubble, call tighter. See ICM.
Useful equities against a wide shove
Section titled “Useful equities against a wide shove”| Your hand vs a random-ish hand | Equity |
|---|---|
| Any pair | ~50–85% |
| A-x (any ace) | ~55–65% |
| K-Q, K-J | ~60% |
| Two low cards (7-5) | ~40% |
Against a wide shover, any ace, pair or two high cards is often a call when the price is good.
Guidelines
Section titled “Guidelines”- Big blind vs small-blind shove, 10bb: call wide — many aces, kings, pairs, broadways.
- Early-position shove from a tight player: call only with strong pairs and A-K, A-Q.
- Near the bubble: if you have a medium stack and the shover covers you, fold more.
- You cover the shover easily and they’re short: call wider; losing costs you little.
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”- Calling 50bb shoves with A-J “because it’s an ace”.
- Folding the big blind to a 4bb shove with K-10.
- Ignoring the bubble when your stack is at risk.
See also 3-bet shove and bubble play.
Do I need a stronger hand to call an all-in than to shove?
Section titled “Do I need a stronger hand to call an all-in than to shove?”Yes. When you shove you also win when they fold; when you call you can only win at showdown.
Which hands can call a short-stack shove from the button?
Section titled “Which hands can call a short-stack shove from the button?”Often any pair, most aces and strong kings, depending on stack sizes and price.
Should I call tighter near the bubble?
Section titled “Should I call tighter near the bubble?”Yes, especially with a medium stack when the shover covers you.
How much equity do I need to call an all-in?
Section titled “How much equity do I need to call an all-in?”It depends on the price; from the big blind against a short shove it is often only 35–40%.