Module 1 · Lesson 4 of 39 · Free
Showdown: who wins the pot
At the showdown only five cards count for each player: the best five of his seven. When two players' best five cards are the same, they split the pot exactly, whatever else they hold: a 20 bb pot becomes 10 bb each.
The hand
The river, and the betting is over. You hold K♠ 2♦, the Calling station turns over K♥ 7♣, and there are 20 bb in the pot.
Predict first
Who wins the 20 bb pot?
- He does: his 7 beats your 2
- Nobody alone: you split it, 10 bb each
- You do: the king of spades beats the king of hearts
Show the answer
Answer: Nobody alone: you split it, 10 bb each
You both play K Q J T 9, a straight to the king. Your 2 and his 7 are in neither best five, and suits never rank: 20 ÷ 2 = 10 bb each.
Working it out
Build each hand from seven cards. Yours are K♠ 2♦ and the board Q♠ J♥ T♦ 9♣ 3♠, and the best five is K♠ Q♠ J♥ T♦ 9♣, a straight to the king. His seven give the same five ranks with his K♥: K Q J T 9. His 7♣ is not among his best five, so it decides nothing, and neither do the suits. Same five ranks, same hand: the pot is split, 20 ÷ 2 = 10 bb each. Had three players tied for a 30 bb pot, each would take 30 ÷ 3 = 10 bb.
The order of showing is fixed. If anyone bet or raised on the river, the last player who did shows first. If everyone checked, the first player still in to the left of the button shows first, and the others follow clockwise. A player who sees he is beaten may muck instead of showing and give up the pot; to win it, a player must show both hole cards. In a tournament, once a player is all in and the betting is over, every hand still in is turned face up at once.
Formula
Each share of a split pot = pot ÷ tied players: 20 ÷ 2 = 10 bb
Check your understanding
Three players reach the showdown with the same best five cards, and the pot is 45 bb. How many bb does each one get?
Show the answer
Answer: 15 bb
The pot is split three ways: 45 ÷ 3 = 15 bb each.
Three players are left on the river: the small blind, the big blind and the button. All three check. Who shows first?
- The button: he acts last
- The big blind: he posted the bigger blind
- The small blind: the first player to the left of the button
Show the answer
Answer: The small blind: the first player to the left of the button
Nobody bet on the river, so the first player still in to the left of the button shows first: the small blind.
At the showdown you say “a pair of jacks”, but your cards make a flush. What counts?
- The flush: the cards speak
- The pair of jacks: you announced it
- Nothing: a wrong announcement loses the pot
Show the answer
Answer: The flush: the cards speak
The dealer reads the cards, not the words. Show both cards and the flush plays.