Understanding when and how to go all-in, also known as a shove, is a key part of tournament poker. Choosing the right moments helps manage stacks and supports clear, disciplined decision-making.
This blog post explains what a shove is, when it can make sense, and how stack sizes shape the choice. You’ll also find standard shove chart ranges, advice on reading and using charts, plus practical hand examples for different stacks.
We cover common opponent responses, how ICM (Independent Chip Model) changes ranges near pay jumps, frequent mistakes, and simple ways to practise away from the table.
Read on to learn more.
What Does "Shove" Mean In Poker?
In poker, a shove means moving all of a player’s chips into the pot in a single bet. It can happen at any point in the betting rounds, as long as a player still has chips. Opponents can call, fold, or re-shove if they have enough behind.
It is a decisive action, often used with strong hands or very short stacks, and it appears frequently in tournaments where blinds rise and stacks can become shallow. Before committing, players usually weigh up their chip stack, stage of play, position, and hand strength.
When Should I Consider An All-In Push?
An all-in push can be useful in specific spots. Players often consider shoving when their stack is small relative to the blinds, or when their starting hand is strong enough to withstand a call.
With a short stack, such as 10 big blinds or fewer, many players prefer a shove over a small raise to apply pressure and avoid awkward post-flop decisions. Another common situation is when there is a realistic chance to pick up blinds and antes uncontested, especially if the table is tight and late position is available.
Holding a premium hand can also justify a shove, though it still depends on position, action ahead, and who is left to act. All of these factors feed into a simple question: does the risk of elimination match the potential gain in chips?
As those factors overlap, stack size becomes the main driver of all-in decisions, which leads neatly to the next section.
Stack Size Effects On Shove Decisions
Stack size shapes both the options available and the likely responses from others at the table.
With a small stack (roughly 10 big blinds or fewer), shoving is often the strongest play. Smaller raises can invite calls that leave a player committed post-flop, while a shove maximises fold pressure and realises the hand’s equity immediately.
A medium stack (around 10–20 big blinds) calls for more balance. Players weigh up shoving against making standard raises, guided by position, hand strength, and prior action. Late position and unopened pots tend to expand the number of hands that can profitably shove.
Deep stacks (more than 20 big blinds) usually mean fewer pre-flop shoves. There is more room to raise, call, and play post-flop without risking the entire stack, so ranges tighten and all-ins become more situational.
When ranges feel hard to juggle in real time, structured references can help turn these chip counts and positions into clear choices.
Standard Shove Chart Ranges
A shove chart is a reference that suggests which hands a player might move all-in with, based on stack size and table position. It replaces guesswork with consistent, logical choices.
As stacks get smaller, recommended shoving ranges widen to include more hands. With more chips, ranges narrow to stronger holdings. Position matters too: early positions tend to stick to stronger hands, while later positions can include a broader mix because fewer players remain to act.
Typical chart entries include pocket pairs (for example, 7-7 or higher from early seats with mid stacks, wider with short stacks), strong aces (A-K, A-Q, and sometimes A-x suited when short), and some suited connectors or broadway combinations in late position. The exact mix changes with stack depth and whether the pot is unopened or there is action ahead.
Use charts as guides, not fixed rules. Real tables differ, and observation of opponents can justify tightening or loosening the suggested range.
Ready to put a chart to work? The next section explains how to read one quickly and apply it at the table.
How To Read And Use A Shove Chart?
A shove chart lists hands against stack sizes and positions. To use it, identify your current stack in big blinds, note your position, then check which hands the chart recommends for a shove in that spot.
Many charts are colour-coded or laid out on a hand grid, so options can be found at a glance. They are especially handy in tournaments, where blind pressure changes quickly and consistent decisions matter. Remember, though, that charts assume typical conditions. If the table is unusually loose or tight, it can be sensible to adjust.
Short-Stack (10bb Or Less) Example Hands
With very few chips, charts often allow a wider all-in range. Examples commonly include all pocket pairs, most aces, and suited broadway hands such as K-Q suited. Depending on position and prior action, some suited connectors like 7-8 suited can appear too.
Medium-Stack (10-20bb) Example Hands
With a medium stack, ranges tighten. Charts tend to favour medium to strong pairs (for example, 8-8 or higher), strong aces like A-K and A-Q, and selected suited broadway combinations. More speculative hands drop away, and raising small instead of shoving appears more often for marginal holdings.
Deep-Stack (20bb Plus) Example Hands
Over 20 big blinds, pre-flop shoves become rare outside of specific situations. Charts usually reserve them for premium hands such as J-J or better and A-K, while most of the range plays as a standard raise. The goal is to keep flexibility for post-flop play rather than risking the entire stack.
How Do Opponents Typically Respond To A Shove?
Opponents facing a shove can call, fold, or re-shove if they cover the all-in. A call usually indicates a hand they believe performs well against a typical shoving range. Folding concedes the pot without further investment. Re-shoves appear when an opponent has a strong hand and wants to isolate, or when they want to pressure intervening players.
Responses depend on stack sizes, positions, and table tendencies. Short-stacked callers may commit lighter because they cannot threaten future streets, while deep-stacked players tend to call tighter pre-flop to avoid playing massive pots with marginal hands. Visible patterns and recent showdowns also nudge ranges wider or narrower.
These reactions shift even more when prize jumps come into play, which is where ICM matters.
When Does ICM Change My Shove Range?
ICM, the Independent Chip Model, estimates the value of a stack in terms of potential payouts rather than just chip counts. It matters most near the money bubble and at final tables, where each decision can move a player up or down the payout ladder.
Under ICM pressure, shoving ranges often tighten, especially when covered by bigger stacks that can eliminate you. Hands that may be fine shoves in early or middle stages can become folds near a pay jump, because chip preservation has extra value. Conversely, very short stacks may still need to take close spots, but care shifts towards avoiding dominated hands that fare poorly when called.
For example, on the bubble with several similar stacks, shoving a marginal ace from early position is often worse than usual. If called and eliminated, the loss is not only chips but a missed payout. Waiting for a clearer spot can protect equity in the tournament.
Common Mistakes Players Make When Shoving
A frequent error is shoving with a stack that is too deep. With plenty of chips, a standard raise can keep weaker hands in and avoids risking the entire stack unnecessarily.
Another is pushing weak or dominated hands from early position, or ignoring position entirely. Even with short stacks, position meaningfully changes how often a shove gets through and how well it performs when called.
Players also overlook tournament context. Approaching the bubble or a pay jump without adjusting can turn a break-even shove into a costly mistake. Likewise, sticking rigidly to memory instead of checking current charts leads to outdated decisions as blinds and antes change.
Good habits help. Reviewing ranges, noting table tendencies, and taking short breaks when decisions feel rushed can all improve consistency and keep play within personal limits.
How Can I Practice Shove Scenarios Away From The Table?
Practice away from the felt builds confidence. Free shove-chart calculators and training tools let players test hands across positions and stacks, see suggestions, and compare results. Printing or saving a small set of charts for common spots is useful for quick study sessions.
Many players learn by creating flashcard-style drills: pick a random stack and position, choose a hand, then check the chart. Over time, the most common spots become automatic. Discussion forums and study groups can add perspective by challenging assumptions and highlighting leaks.
Simulated tournaments with friends or free-play apps also help rehearse decisions without financial pressure. The goal is to build a routine so that, when a real decision arrives, the choice is grounded in preparation rather than guesswork.
If you choose to play, keep stakes affordable, use safer gambling tools where helpful, and take breaks when needed. If gambling begins to affect your well-being or finances, seek support early. Independent organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware offer free, confidential help.
Used thoughtfully, shoves become one part of a structured poker strategy, helping decisions stay consistent from the first hand to the final table.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.