Question regarding all-in on the BB...

[obijuan]

Went to Caesar's IN Sunday afternoon/night for my first live casino play ever. Had a good trip, made some money playing their 4/8, played okay, was nervous and fidgety the entire time, etc. Near the end of my night, the player to my left had $2 left in chips at the end of a hand and was the BB for the next hand. He asked the dealer if he could be all in for $2 when he was the BB. She responded, "I don't think so, but I don't know." The situation was "resolved" when another player tossed him $2 in chips, which I'm virtually certain is not allowed. I didn't much care as the hand hadn't been dealt yet, so it didn't really affect the game. I'm just wondering whether a player can be all-in when they're in the big blind for an amount less than the big blind. I'm pretty sure the answer is "no", but I, like the dealer, am unsure.

[Brain]

Sure you can. He would post the $2 as his BB, everybody else has to call $4 pre-flop and then there's a main pot and a side pot.

[obijuan]

Cool, thanks for the reply/answer.

[TomCollins]

If someone wants to go all in for $4, who cares? If someone gives him $2, do you really think it makes a big difference? Most places I have seen make you have at least 1 SB to play.