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The Big Blind Poster Goes All-in
The poker players who post the blinds are making what's been called a "forced" bet. These players are putting money in the pot before they see their cards. But what happens if later in the game, the player who should post the big blind doesn't have enough chips to cover it? We all know that the big blind is the lowest betting amount in the game. So, does the original lowest bet become the second lowest bet when that big blind poster goes all-in?
First of all, the big blind poster should put all the chips in when they are less than what's required. As to the second question, it's a no. What has been agreed as the lowest bet won't change. The rest of the players will then go on with a call or raise or fold after that player's entire chips is put in the pot.
As all-in betting rules go, that player can only win an amount equal to the all-in chips put in the pot from each player who placed full bets at that round of betting. So, if the big blind in the game is 100 chips and the player who should post it only has 80 chips remaining. The big blind poster should go all-in and place the entire 80 chips in the pot. Then, if two other players have called and placed their wagers at the first round of betting, the dealer will separate 240 chips (80 chips multiplied by three players) at the end of that round. That is the pot that the all-in player will compete for at showdown.
At showdown, the difference of the total pot and 240 chips is the amount that the other players who called and placed in full bets will fight for. Whoever wins the difference, will compete against the player who went all-in to fight for the 240 chips that was separated in the pot.
The poker players who are positioned to post the blinds are obliged to place them. So when the player seated two places from the dealer's left can't cover the big blind bet, that player should go all-in. The minimum betting amount will remain in the game regardless of whether the player posting the blind can or cannot cover it. In this case, as with the all-in betting procedure, the dealer will separate the pot that the big blind poster will compete for at showdown.