I have played poker for a number of years

[emomemonemo]

Not right. In No Limit you can bet as much as you like so that the others following will have to call, fold or raise you more. If one of the players to act after you calls your raise then a side-pot is created. If nobody else calls then your bet is chopped down to the size of your opponent's all in bet. You can't make somebody risk more than what they have on the table.