What is a split pot in poker and when does it occur?
In no-limit Texas Hold'em, there are situations where two or more players have equally strong hands. In such cases, no one takes the entire pot – it's split among the participants. This is known as a split pot.
Understanding the mechanics of a split helps to correctly assess the strength of a hand and prevent errors in calculating expected profit. In this article, you will learn how and when a pot is divided.
When does a pot split occur?
Players have identical pocket cards
This is the most common scenario.
Consider this example:
Fyodor has pocket A♦️K♦️, and his opponent Andrei has A♠️K♠️
Board: J♦️Q♦️10❤️2♠️5♠️
Both players have made a straight, and the pot will be evenly split between them.
Partial matching of cards is possible as well
For instance:
Klim has pocket A❤️7❤️, and Lera has A♠️5♠️
Board: 6❤️6♠️4♣️4♦️K♦️
Klim might think he wins the hand because he has the better kicker, but hands are made from only five cards, so both players have two pairs with an ace as the kicker, and the pot will be split.
The exact same situation would occur on a board of A♦️K♦️Q♣️T♣️2♣️
Both players would have a hand of a pair of aces, king, queen, and ten. Klim's best kicker does not feature in the top five cards for the hand.
The hand is determined entirely by the board
If the strength of the hand is determined solely by the community cards, pocket cards do not matter.
For example, on the board: A❤️K❤️Q❤️J❤️T❤️ a royal flush is available to all players, so their pocket cards do not affect the outcome. This situation often occurs when the board shows a straight or flush consisting of five cards.
Partial split: sharing part of the pot
There are cases where one player wins the main pot, but the side pot is split among other players. Imagine a situation where three players go all-in pre-flop:
Klim goes all-in with 20 big blinds with A❤️J❤️, Andrei goes all-in with 30 big blinds with A♠️Q♠️, and Fyodor, with a bigger stack than Andrei, calls with A♦️Q♦️.
In this case, all three are competing for a 60 big blinds main pot, while Fyodor and Andrei also play for a 20 big blinds side pot.
Board: A♣️J♣️5❤️2❤️8♦️
Klim takes the main pot with two pairs, while the side pot will be split between Fyodor and Andrei because they have identical hands.
Conclusion
A split is a common aspect of Hold'em poker. A pot split occurs when multiple players have the same final hand or when the hand is determined entirely by the community cards. Understanding the principle of splitting helps avoid erroneous expectations and allows for more accurate post-flop strategy calculations.
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FAQ
Can there be a split pot with a flush?
Yes, if there are 5 cards of the same suit on the board and none of the players have pocket cards of that suit that are higher.
What happens at showdown if two opponents have identical hands, but one has a higher kicker?
The kicker is only considered if it is part of the final five cards. If a player's kicker is among the top five cards, they will win the hand. If not, the pot will be split.
Can you win the pot if part of the hand is shared?
Yes. For example, by kicker or a higher flush.