In tournaments, a common scene raises doubts among recreational players: someone pushes almost their entire stack into the middle… but leaves one chip behind. For many, it seems like an automatic gesture, but according to professional and coach Faraz Jaka, doing it without a reason is a frequent mistake.
“The problem is that many people do it at times that don’t make sense,” explains Jaka, who has more than 18 years on the circuit and multiple WSOP final tables. “That slows down the game and can cause errors. It’s not something I would recommend if there isn’t a strategic reason.”
According to the coach in a small guide published on Poker.org, the only time it really has value to leave a chip behind is on the river, right when you are about to bet everything. “Instead of going all-in, some professionals leave a chip behind because sometimes you are bluffing and you are going to lose the pot,” he points out. “In those cases, that chip can be very valuable.”
Faraz Jaka Has Nearly 10 Million Dollars In Live Tournament Earnings, According To Hendonmob.
Read more WSOP Super Circuit: US$180 Million Guaranteed On GGPoker
Jaka exemplifies the situation with a 500/1,000 blind structure with a 1,000 ante. If a player loses the hand after reserving a minimum chip —for example, 100— in the next hand they can go all-in for that amount. Any opponent must call those 100 to play, but the player still participates for the pot that includes the antes. “You can literally turn that chip into 1,200, 1,300 or more in the next hand. It’s a very good risk-reward ratio,” he explains.
Where he does not recommend doing it is on earlier streets without a clear reason. “Don’t do it randomly preflop, on the flop, or on the turn,” he warns. “Sometimes you’ll see professionals do it when they’re trying to stall near a money jump. It’s a rare situation, and everyone can have their opinion on whether it’s right or not.”
The coach’s final message is clear: it’s not about copying the pros’ moves, but about understanding them. In poker, every chip can be important, but only when the decision behind it makes strategic sense.
Read more Davidi Kitai Teaches How the Mind of a Pro Works
Source: Poker.org
