Quick facts by PokerStrategy:
- Side pots are created when a player goes all-in and others continue betting.
- The main pot is for all players; side pots are for those players who continue to bet.
- Multiple side pots can exist with several all-ins.
- The first player who went all-in can only win the first pot, not the side pots.
What Is a Side Pot in Poker?
A side pot is formed when at least one player goes all-in, but chips still remain with the other players, and they continue betting. The all-in player is not able to keep up with bets in the future, and as such, additional chips that have been bet belong to another pot – the side pot – to which the all-in player has no right.
The all-in player can win only the main pot, which consists of the money they invested. Side pots are resolved independently of the main pot, and only players who invested in a side pot stand to win it.
Side pots in poker tend to create some of the most frustrating and confusing moments at the table. Understanding how they are figured out is an essential part of playing correctly and extracting maximum value from multi-way hands.
Regardless of whether you are facing multiple players or short stacks, side pots have the power to greatly impact your strategy and outcome. Knowing when and under what circumstances side pots are formed – and who wins them – can make all the difference between a winning session and an expensive mistake.
How Do Side Pots Work in Poker?
Side pots are used to address unbalanced chip stacks when one or more players go all-in.
Let’s observe how side pot rules work in poker:
- All-In Declaration: One player with fewer chips goes all-in. Once they do, they can no longer increase the pot, although other players with remaining chips can still act.
- Main Pot Creation: The main pot is built up with all players contributing the same quantity as much as the all-in player’s stack. This is the one that the all-in player can win.
- Side Pot Formation: Any additional chips bet by players who have more chips than the all-in player are placed into a side pot. This side pot is separate and can be won only by players who bet chips into it.
- Multiple All-Ins: When several players go all-in for various sums, there can be more than one side pot. The pots are resolved in order, starting with the main pot and then moving outwards to the largest side pot.
- Showdown Order:At showdown, all hands are revealed if at least one player is all-in. The main pot is awarded to the highest poker hand among all eligible players. Side pots are awarded to the highest hand among players remaining in each respective side pot.
This system has fair payouts in proportion to risked chips. It does not have the tendency to slow down the game and ask players with large stacks to reduce their bets.
Examples of a Side Pot
Here’s a simple example
- Player A has 1,000 chips.
- Player B has 2,000 chips.
- Player C has 5,000 chips.
- Blinds are 100/200.
Preflop
- Player A goes all-in for 1,000.
- Player B calls the 1,000.
- Player C raises to 3,000.
- Player B calls the additional 2,000.
Now the pots are split:
- Main pot (Player A’s biggest contribution): 1,000 by A + 1,000 by B + 1,000 by C = 3,000.
- Side pot (more between B and C): 2,000 by B + 2,000 by C = 4,000.
At showdown:
- Player A gets the main pot alone (3,000) only if Player A possesses the winning hand.
- Side pot (4,000) is contested only by Player B and Player C. Player A is unable to claim it.
- If both pots are taken by Player C, they get off with 7,000 in all. If Player A takes the big pot but not the side pot, they get off with 3,000 anyway.
Pro Tips
If you have a large stack, consider whether it’s worth building a side pot when short stacks are all-in. You risk more chips than the all-in player can win. If your hand is marginal, flat calling might be safer to avoid isolating yourself in a side pot.
Always keep track of who’s eligible for each pot. Muddling this will lead to mistaken decisions at showdown, especially in live play when the dealer is not as precise as the software used in online poker sites.
Side Pot Snapshots
- Main Pot: This is the pot that includes the chips from all players up to the smallest all-in. All players are eligible to win this pot.
- Side Pot 1: This pot includes additional chips bet by players who have more chips than the smallest all-in. Only players who contributed to this pot are eligible to win it.
- Side Pot 2: If there’s a third player with even more chips who continues to bet, another side pot is created. Again, only players who contributed to this pot can win it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can there be more than one side pot?
Yes. There can be several side pots when two or more players go all-in for various amounts. Each side pot is a level of chip commitments, and they are distributed in sequence according to who owes them.
Can an all-in player win the side pot?
No. A player who went all-in can only win the main pot (and any side pot they contributed to before going all-in). If they did not contribute chips to a side pot, they don’t win it.
What happens if you win the side pot but lose the main pot?
You only win the side pot. The main pot goes to the best hand among those qualifying for it – this includes the all-in player. This scenario is common in tournaments, where players will often get all-in with short stacks.