All-in or Fold, often simply called AoF, is a fast-paced, action-packed poker format
that’s one of the most popular at Natural8. As the name suggests, you only have two
moves open to you when playing AoF: move all-in or fold!
In this guide, we’ll be
running through the basic rules of All-in or Fold, as well as offering some strategy
tips and tricks. We’ll also discuss the different promotions and side bets
available.
What is All-in or Fold?
All-in or Fold is the name of an innovative poker
format on the GGPoker network. It removes a lot of the intricacies of a regular game,
greatly increasing the tempo. Not only does this create a more exciting atmosphere, but
it also offers an accessible entry point to new players just learning the game.
It’s
possible to play All-in or Fold cash games, as well as Sit & Go tournaments, in both
Omaha and Texas Hold’em. Whichever type of game you prefer, your only options are to
muck or put all of your chips in the pot.
The Concept of All-In Poker
If you were to
hear the expression “All-in or Fold”, you’d probably assume that someone is
short-stacked in a tournament. When you have so few chips available, playing all-in
poker is often the only viable strategy.
In a weird way, tournaments can be more
enjoyable when you’re in “shove or fold” mode. Even though you’re on the brink of
defeat, there is less pressure, since the complex decisions are removed from the
equation. This relaxed feeling no doubt inspired the creation of this new all-in poker
format.
Rules of All-in or Fold Poker
Okay, it’s time to jump in and learn all about
the All-in or Fold rules. First things first, you can play either Hold’em or Omaha AoF
games. The basic rules of both, such as the number of cards dealt or the poker hand
rankings, remain unchanged. It’s only the betting which is affected.
Every turn,
regardless of your chosen format, all players have the same two options open to
them:
Fold. Throw your cards to the muck and take no further part in the hand,
forfeiting any blinds. However, you can still play the AoF side bets which we’ll
discuss later.
All-in. There’s no need to stress about bet sizing in AoF. If you like
your hand and wish to play, just push all-in!
AoF Sit & Go
Single table All-in or Fold
poker tournaments run regularly throughout the day, for both Omaha and Hold’em. There
are three buy-in levels:R$0.50,R$2.50, andR$10. Each Sit & Go requires 16 players to
start and adopts a shootout format with four tables of four. The winner of each
progresses to a final table and is guaranteed a prize greater than their original
buy-in.
A portion of each entry fee is taken as rake, with the rest entering the prize
pool. The exact payouts naturally depend upon your chosen buy-in. But the table below
explains all you need to know about the All-in or Fold S&G structure.
AoF
Buy-InR$0.50R$2.50R$10 Rake (%)R$0.05 (10%)R$0.175 (7%)R$0.70 (7%) Total
PoolR$7.20R$37.20R$148.80 1stR$3R$15R$60 2ndR$2R$11R$44 3rdR$1.50R$7.50R$30
4thR$0.70R$3.70R$14.80
Players start with 2,400 in chips, but everyone has three
bullets they can fire. If you go broke or dip below 2BBs, you’ll automatically reload
with another set of 2,400 chips. Alternatively, you can click on your stack to add
chips whenever you like. So it’s possible to play with all three stacks in play at
once.
There are 13 blind levels in total, starting from 50 / 100, eventually increasing
to 5,000 / 10,000 if required. Blinds jump every 60 seconds, ensuring a rapid-fire
contest.
Cash Games
It’s also possible to play All-in or Fold cash games at a wide
variety of stakes. All Natural8 tables seat four players and blinds start from as
little asR$0.05 /R$0.10, with aR$1 initial buy-in. The richest big blinds in Hold’em
are capped atR$100, with aR$1,000 buy-in. But Omaha games stretch toR$100 /R$200 and
aR$1,000 buy-in.
If you dip below the buy-in amount, you’ll automatically top up for
the next hand. However, if you win a pot, chips over the buy-in amount remain in your
stack. You have the option to automatically remove them if you wish, which can be
configured in your settings.
Side Pots
If you’re going to try All-in or Fold poker,
it’s crucial that you understand side pots. Regular players can probably skip this
part, but since AoF exclusively involves all-in plays, you’ll witness a lot of side
pots. So, let’s explain how they work right away.
In any poker game, there’s a good
chance we’ll see a side pot whenever a player is all-in. Imagine you haveR$10 in chips
and two opponents haveR$20 each. If you shove, the other two can call and keep playing
for their remaining cash. You might not have any chips left, but they may continue to
bet and raise until they are also all-in.
If all three players were to end up all-in,
there would be two different pots. Whoever makes the best hand will win the main pot,
which is contested by everyone. But there is a furtherR$20 to be won in a separate
contest between the two larger stacks. Whichever player has the best hand wins the side
pot.
All-in or Fold Features
The spirit of All-in or Fold is one of quick-fire action
and excitement. And in keeping with that theme, there are a couple of interesting side
bets to further spice things up. You’ll find these in the bottom-left corner of the
Natural8 poker client. Simply click on the icon to open the desired betting
interface.
Next Hand Roulette
This All-in or Fold side bet is inspired by the classic
casino game of roulette. But instead of betting on a wheel of numbers, you’re trying to
guess what cards your next hand will contain. Next Hand Roulette offers nine different
betting opportunities in all.
The minimum stake is equal to the table’s big blind,
while the maximum is 100BBs. You can place bets on as many or as few of the grid areas
as you like, and payouts are as follows:
Wager Description Reward Suit Will your hand
contain at least one of the specified suit? 1.95x Two Number Cover two specific numbers
(of any suit) at once. 3.15x 2 Red / 2 Black Both cards must be the specified colour.
3.95x Suited Will the two-hole cards be suited? 4.10x Corner Bet on four named cards at
the same time. 6.25x Single Number Cover a specific number regardless of suit. 6.25x
Split This bet covers two named cards in one bet. 12.50x Pair Will you be dealt a
pocket pair? 16.50x Straight Up Betting on a specific card, such as the King of Clubs.
25x
Bet On Flop
The second All-in or Fold side bet is called Bet On Flop. Prior to the
start of each round, you may attempt to guess the texture of the next flop you see. If
the hand doesn’t make it to the flop, the bet remains in place until you see
one.
Similar to Next Hand Roulette, the wager limits range from 1BB to 100BBs. There
are seven types of bet, with rewards of up to 170x your stake:
Wager Reward Any 2x
Black Cards 2.4x Any 2x Red Cards 2.4x All 3x Red or Black 4x Pair 5x Flush 17x
Straight 25x Triple or Straight Flush 170x
All-in or Fold Strategy and Advice
Now that
you understand the rules of this enthralling game, it’s time to think about playing
strategies. Although AoF seems chaotic at first, there are actually a few things you
can do to improve your chances of winning.
Here are our top All-in or Fold
tips:
Position still matters . With just four to a table and no option other than
all-in or fold, it’s tempting to dismiss position. But you should still tighten up when
under the gun. You’ll often find multiple callers behind you and this is a great way to
lose chips.
Be aggressive from the small blind . If the first two seats fold to you
when in the small blind, play often. It’s unlikely that the big blind will have a great
hand, allowing you to steal. And a lot of the time, you’ll be no worse than 65-35 in a
race if called.
It’s okay to be passive early in S&Gs . Many All-in or Fold players
take a kamikaze approach early on in Sit & Gos. But it’s preferable to be tight in the
opening blind levels. Frequent folds will earn you respect later, so you can steal
blinds more easily.
Forget advanced poker strategy. AoF is all about having fun.
There’s no place here for talk of stack to pot ratio or fold equity. Beyond basic hand
selection, poker position and blind levels, there’s not much to consider. Don’t
overthink and enjoy the game.
AOF Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re trying out All-in or Fold
for the first time, be sure to avoid these common traps:
Failure to adapt to the unique
format . This is the most common mistake made by new All-in or Fold players. Understand
the shootout format in S&Gs, as well as how your buy-ins are topped up in cash games.
Know that normal strategies don’t apply.
Don’t play too many tables . AoF cash games
move a lot quicker than regular ones. If you try to play lots of games at once, you’ll
feel the pressure and might make mistakes. If you must multi-table, stick to a maximum
of two games.
Tilt. This is not unique to All-in or Fold, but the game’s nature makes
it easy to tilt. You’ll find yourself all-in as a slight favourite a lot of the time.
That means plenty of outdraws. Plus, the fast pace means you play more hands, seeing
more bad beats.
AoF Promotions
There are always generous deals at Natural8, including
signup incentives, cashback, and bad beat bonuses. But All-in or Fold has a couple of
promotions that are unique to this particular format. Let’s have a look at what they
are and how they work.
H3: AoF Jackpot
Not to be confused with the Bad Beat Jackpot,
the All-in or Fold Jackpot presents sizable rewards for making a straight flush. All
tables at a given blind level contribute to their own designated pot. Half of any rake
taken is added to the associated pool.
Claiming the jackpot is simple. You just need to
form the best possible straight flush. So on a board of Q 6 7 8 A, it isn’t enough to
hold 9 5. The jackpot would only be awarded to a player with T 9 specifically.
Since
it’s a little easier to find big hands when playing Omaha, you can only win those AoF
Jackpots with a royal flush.
All-In Fortune Jackpot
Another bonus prize pool that’s
available at the All-in or Fold tables is the Fortune Jackpot. You’ll notice a little
gold pot towards the left of the table when playing. Every time someone pushes all-in,
the pot shakes, taking one step closer to breaking.
At some point, these fortune pots
will smash open and when they do, a prize is randomly issued. The potential values on
offer depend upon the stakes you’re playing at, but the largest is a very
respectableR$20,000!
If a pot opens, the only player to win any money is the one
responsible for breaking it. So unlike a bad beat jackpot, the funds are not shared
around the table.
Leaderboards
Natural8 runs leaderboards for all games, and All-in or
Fold is no exception. For every hand you play that makes it to the showdown stage,
you’ll score a reward point towards the leaderboard. At least three players must be
seated at the start of the hand to qualify. If a player folds, they will not score a
point, even if the hand reaches a showdown.
At the end of the promo period, the
best-performing players win prizes. The exact rewards depend on the specific promotion
and the blind levels played. But in February 2024, for example, Natural8 gave away a
massiveR$40,000 in All-in or Fold Leaderboard prizes every single day!
All-in or Fold:
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to try something different, All-in or Fold could be
the game for you. It’s a good way to blow off steam since the complicated
decision-making elements are taken out of the game. And since more serious players
don’t tend to join, the overall atmosphere is more relaxed.
Action junkies will enjoy
the game’s speedy nature, which ensures you play a lot of hands per hour. Not to
mention the additional side bets, which are easy to play and potentially
rewarding.
Ready to see for yourself what all the fuss is about with All-in or Fold?
Then it’s time to head over to Natural8 and take your seat.
