A common strategy that often confuses players is leaving one chip behind when you would otherwise go all-in preflop.

At first glance, it seems pointless—you’re already pot-committed, so why not just shove the last chip in and save time? But there are several strategic reasons why this small move can be beneficial.

Why Leave One Chip Behind?

A Slim Chance to Survive

Occasionally, you’ll get called, see a flop, and lose the hand. If you had gone all-in, you’d be eliminated. But with that one chip left, you still have a (tiny) chance to spin it back up.

Laddering Opportunities

In final table situations, especially with ICM pressure, this tactic can help you move up the payouts. Imagine you have 5 big blinds, bet four of them, and then multiple opponents shove behind you. Now, at least one of them is likely to bust, improving your chances of laddering up the pay scale.

Confusing Opponents

Some players don’t register that you aren’t actually all-in. Without the dealer announcing it, they may see your big bet and fold a hand they would have called against an official all-in. This subtle trick can steal fold equity from your opponents.

ICM Stalling Tactic

In extreme bubble spots—such as satellites—leaving one chip behind is an easy way to buy extra time. It causes hesitation from other players and gives you an additional moment to act once the action returns to you.

Bounty Tournament Strategy

In PKOs, this move forces bigger stacks to re-open the action if they want to claim your bounty. If you bet four big blinds out of five, a big stack can’t just call—they have to raise, often to eight big blinds or more. This can discourage other players from entering the pot or force postflop betting that might push others out, increasing your chances of getting heads-up instead of facing a multiway pot.

The Power of Small Edges

I call this strategy “stealing fold equity.”

In most cases, you’ll still end up all-in, and the final outcome won’t change. But poker is a game of small edges, and this is one of those subtle plays that can add up over time. Now that you understand why it works, it’s a trick worth adding to your game.