Stop and go is a two-street tournament play where you call a preflop raise out of position, then immediately bet the flop before your opponent can act, essentially “stopping” their aggression preflop and “going” with your own bet postflop.
The stop and go play serves as a survival tactic in tournament poker when you’re short-stacked and facing a preflop raise. Instead of shoving all-in preflop where your opponent might call light, you flat call and then jam any flop, regardless of texture. This move exploits the psychological tendency of opponents to fold more on the flop when they miss, even with hands that would have called your preflop shove.
The effectiveness comes from fold equity, your opponent needs a hand they’re willing to commit with postflop, which is often a narrower range than their preflop calling range. With 10-15 big blinds, stop and go can be more profitable than a preflop jam against loose openers.
How Does Stop and Go Work?
Example 1: Classic Tournament Spot
You hold A♣5♣ in the big blind with 12 big blinds in a tournament.
The button raises to 2.5x. You call.
The flop comes K♠8♦3♥. You immediately shove your remaining 10 big blinds.
Your opponent opened wide from the button but now faces a decision with hands like Q♦J♦ or 7♣7♥ on a king-high board. Many opponents fold hands they would have called with preflop, giving you the pot without showdown.
Sizing Considerations
The stop and go requires specific stack depths to work effectively. With 8-15 big blinds, you have enough chips that opponents won’t feel priced in to call your flop shove, but not so many that the play becomes unprofitable. Your flop bet should always be all-in, partial bets defeat the purpose of maximum fold equity.
When Should You Stop and Go?
- Against late position opens where ranges are wide
- When your hand plays poorly all-in preflop but has some equity
Common Mistakes with Stop and Go
Trying it with too many chips. With 20+ big blinds, opponents call lighter because the pot odds improve and you’re not applying maximum pressure.
Don’t Confuse With…
Stop and go vs probe bet: A probe bet happens when the preflop raiser checks and you bet. Stop and go requires YOU to bet first after calling preflop, before the raiser can continue.
Key Takeaway
Stop and go transforms marginal hands into profitable tournament plays by creating two decision points for your opponent instead of one, maximizing fold equity when you need it most.
