Double Up
To double up is to double your stack in one hand, usually by winning an all-in.
The simple explanation
Doubling up means winning a hand that takes your stack to twice its previous size. It most often happens when a short stack goes all in against a bigger stack and wins. Players say 'double up' with pleasure, since it gives them chips to work with.
A closer look
For a short stack in a tournament, doubling up is often the quickest way to become playable again. The size of a double-up depends on the effective stack: you can win from an opponent at most the amount you can lose to them. After a double-up the next hands can be played with more options.
A practical example
A player with 5,000 chips goes all in against a bigger stack and wins. He now has 10,000 chips: he has doubled up.
Full explanation
To double up is to double your stack in one hand, usually by winning an all-in.
To double up is to increase your chip stack by an amount equal to its current total in a single hand. It is used in both tournaments and cash games.
The usual path is an all-in confrontation. If the player with the smaller stack wins against an opponent with a bigger stack, they double their chips. The exact winnings depend on the stacks and on how many players call.
A double-up is especially valuable for short stacks. It turns a stack that can only shove or fold into one with some room to play.
The expression is also used with ‘double through’, meaning to double up by winning a pot from a particular opponent.
Alternative spelling: double-up