Table Stakes and All-In

Pocker is typically played "table stakes", meaning only the chips in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the hand. The table stakes rule has an application called the "All-In" rule, which states that a player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet.

A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager. All further action involving other players takes place in a "side pot", which the All-In player is not eligible for.