Betting concept

Stab in Poker — What It Means and When to Use It

Stab is a betting move. Here's exactly what it means, when it's right, and when to avoid it.

Quick answer

Stab — A small bet at an unraised pot, typically by the in-position player after a check.

In more detail

Stabs target weak ranges. They’re cheap and pick up the pot a high % of the time at low stakes.

Common questions

What does Stab mean in poker?

Stabs target weak ranges. They’re cheap and pick up the pot a high % of the time at low stakes.

Related terms

All-In
Betting all your remaining chips.
Ante
A forced bet all players must post before each hand.
Barrel
A continuation bet on a later street (double = flop+turn, triple = + river).
Blind
A forced bet posted before the cards are dealt.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.