Walk
A "walk" in poker is the situation where every player folds preflop to the big blind who then collects the pot uncontested.
What is a Walk in Poker?
In poker, a walk is the situation where all players fold to the big blind at the start of a hand. When this happens, the big blind wins the pot without having to see a flop or make any further bets.
Understanding Walks
Walks are more common in tournament play where blinds and antes represent a significant portion of a player's stack. They can be a welcome relief for the big blind, who gets to increase their chip stack without any risk (though can be disappointing if the big blind has a strong starting hand).
Impact of a Walk
A walk can have various impacts on the game. For the big blind, it's an opportunity to win chips without any contest. For the other players, it's a missed opportunity to win the pot. Frequent walks can affect the game's pace and dynamic, particularly in a tournament setting where sluggish play leads rapidly to short stacks.
Example of "Walk"
You are playing Texas hold'em and are seated in the big blind. If everyone folds to you and you collect the pot, then you have just "received a walk."
- "He got a walk and won the pot without having to see a flop."
- "She was hoping for a walk to increase her chip stack without any risk."
- "Despite having a strong hand, he decided to fold, giving his opponent a walk."
Walk in Poker FAQs
What is a walk in poker?
A walk in poker is a preflop situation where all other players fold around to the big blind in a hand. The big blind wins the pot without having to see a flop or make any further bets.
How often do walks occur in poker?
Walks are rare unless the game is made up of several very tight players. Walks occur more frequently in tournament play, particularly in later stages when blinds and antes represent a significant portion of a player's stack.
What is the impact of a walk on the game?
A single walk usually makes very little difference to the overall game. The big blind's stack increases by the amount of the blinds an antes. If walks are common in a game, it is an indicator of how slow the game's pace and dynamic is.
For the big blind, it's a nice bump to their stack without any risk involved. For the other players, it's represents a missed opportunity to win the pot.
Can I prevent a walk?
As a player, you can prevent a walk by choosing not to fold when you're in a position to contest the big blind. This decision should be based on your hand strength, position, and strategy. At a cash game table, walks may be preempted by agreeing to chop the blinds.
Does a walk impact the big blind's strategy?
A walk cannot influence the big blind's strategy as the hand is effectively over by the time it occurs. However, when a walks occurs, it allows the big blind to increase their chip stack without any risk, which may have an impact on future hands.
