What Does Cover Mean in Poker?
In poker, ‘cover’ refers to having a larger stack of chips than another player. It means you can potentially win all of that player’s chips in a hand. When playing online poker, understanding coverage is crucial for effective strategy.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Cover
You might hear this term during discussions of stack sizes, particularly in tournament play where covering an opponent means you can eliminate them from the tournament.
In-Game Example
You’re in a tournament with 15,000 chips, and your opponent has 10,000. If you both go all-in, you cover your opponent, meaning you have the potential to win all their chips.
Strategy / Tips
Best Practice: Use your coverage to pressure opponents, especially shorter stacks, into making mistakes or folding.
Common Mistake: Ignoring stack sizes and losing potential opportunities to eliminate opponents.
Pro Tips: When you cover multiple opponents, you can play more aggressively, leveraging your stack to bully the table.
Differences Playing Over the Table vs Online
In live games, physical chip stacks make it easier to visually assess coverage, while online, you need to rely on numerical displays and adjust quickly to changing stack sizes.
Alternative Names
Having coverage, chip lead (in specific contexts).
FAQs
Q: Does having cover mean I should always play more aggressively?
A: Not always. While covering allows for more aggressive plays, consider your opponent’s tendencies and the overall table dynamics.
Related Terms
- Chip Lead
- Stack Size
