Online Poker > Online Poker Beginners Guide > Split Pots
Split Pots
The key to understanding split-pots is to remember that poker is about the best five-card hand. All and only the best five-cards contribute to a winning poker hand. The examples below should help explain what this means for split-pots:
Example 1:
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Player 1 |
Player 2 |
Player 3 |
 
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Table shows: |
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Split Pot: At first glance the beginner might think that player A has won the pot as he has the best starting hand, and no player has paired any of the cards in his hand. In fact this is a three-way split pot. The best five-card hand is two-pairs, aces and three’s with a king kicker. In this case four communal cards and only one ‘hole’ card are used to make the best hand, so the value of each player’s second hole card does not matter.
Example 2:
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Player A |
Player B |
 
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Table shows: |
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Split Pot: In this case the best five-card hand consists entirely of communal cards. None of the player’s hole cards are used in the best hand – an ace high flush, and so the pot is split.
Example 3:
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Player A |
Player B |
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Table shows: |
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Split Pot: The best five-card hand here is a full house, fours full of aces (4-4-4-A-A). As in the first example each player uses only one of his hole cards (the ace) to make the winning hand. Although player B has a king and there is a king on the board, this card does not ultimately feature in the full house.
Example 4:
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Player A |
Player B |
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Table shows: |
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Player B wins: Here’s an example of a hand that might look like a split pot, but isn’t. The best possible five-card hand here is an ace high flush, which both players have. But remember, all five cards count in the best possible hand, and Player B’s highest heart (the 9h) is higher than Player A’s highest heart (the 8h). The fact that player A used both his hole cards to make his flush is irrelevant. Ah-Jh-Th-9h-2h is better than Ah-Jh-Th-8h-7h. Player B wins the pot.
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13 May 2008 09:07:24
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