Reshove

Overview

A reshove refers to the action of re-raising all-in after another player has already shoved (put all their chips in the pot) or made a raise that commits them to call an all-in. This term is most often used in tournament poker, particularly in late-stage or short-stacked situations where players are frequently all-in preflop.

Usage and Context

Reshoving differs from a standard shove because it occurs in response to an existing all-in or a raise that is effectively a shove relative to stack sizes. For example, in a tournament with blinds of 1,000/2,000, a player in middle position with 15,000 chips raises to 4,500. A short-stacked player on the button with 8,000 chips shoves all-in. The original raiser may then reshove if they believe they have a strong hand, effectively putting their entire stack at risk to isolate or eliminate the short stack.

Another common scenario: a player opens with a raise, a second player shoves, and a third player with a larger stack reshoves over the top. This move often aims to isolate the original shover and discourage the initial raiser from calling. Reshoving is also a tool to apply ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure, as the reshover can force opponents into difficult decisions for their tournament life.

Strategic Considerations

• Stack sizes: Reshoving is typically done by players with covering stacks (larger than the shover) to maximize fold equity against the original raiser.
• Hand range: A reshove range tends to be strong and polarized, including premium hands (e.g., KK, AA) or sometimes weaker hands if the reshover believes the original raiser will fold frequently.
• Position and opponents: Reshoving from late position or against passive opponents is more effective. It can be a high-variance move, often used when a player needs chips or to exploit tight opponents.

Differences from Related Terms

• Shove: Going all-in without a prior all-in action. A reshove specifically follows someone else's shove.
• Re-raise: A general term for raising after a raise; reshove is a subset where the re-raise is all-in.
• Isolate: Reshoving can serve to isolate the short stack, preventing the initial raiser from seeing a cheap flop.

Example (Typical Scenario)

In a poker tournament, blinds 500/1,000 with a 100 ante. Player A (12,000 chips) raises to 2,500. Player B (8,000 chips) shoves all-in. Player C (25,000 chips) on the button reshoves for 25,000. Player A folds, and Player B calls with a marginal hand. This reshove pressures Player A to fold and gives Player C a chance to eliminate Player B.

Reshoving is a powerful but risky play that requires understanding of stack dynamics, opponent tendencies, and tournament payout structures.