How Side Pots Work in Texas Hold’em
Someone goes all-in, two other players keep betting, and suddenly there are chips everywhere. Who can win what? Don't worry: side pots look complicated, but the rule behind them is simple.
What Is a Side Pot?
When a player goes all-in, they have put all their remaining chips into the hand. They can still win, even if they cannot match a larger bet. But they cannot win extra chips that other players bet beyond their contribution. Those extra chips form a side pot.
The main pot is the first pot, which the shortest all-in player can win. Other players may also qualify for one or more side pots. Each pot is awarded separately to the best eligible hand.
Example 1: One Side Pot
Three players remain. By the end of betting, they have contributed these totals (including any blinds):
| Player | Total chips committed |
|---|---|
| Alex (all-in) | 100 |
| Blair | 300 |
| Casey | 300 |
Main pot: Take 100 from each player: 100 × 3 = 300 chips. Alex, Blair, and Casey can all win it.
Side pot: Blair and Casey each contributed another 200: 200 × 2 = 400 chips. Only Blair and Casey can win this pot.
Total: 300 + 400 = 700 chips, exactly what everyone contributed.
Suppose Alex has a flush, Blair has two pair, and Casey has one pair. Alex wins the 300-chip main pot. Blair wins the 400-chip side pot because Blair beats Casey. Alex's flush cannot win the side pot, no matter how strong it is.
Example 2: Multiple Side Pots
Now four players go to showdown, with different-sized stacks committed:
| Player | Total chips committed |
|---|---|
| Alex (all-in) | 100 |
| Blair (all-in) | 200 |
| Casey (all-in) | 400 |
| Drew (called) | 400 |
| Pot | Calculation | Chips | Eligible players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | 100 × 4 | 400 | Alex, Blair, Casey, Drew |
| Side pot 1 | (200 − 100) × 3 | 300 | Blair, Casey, Drew |
| Side pot 2 | (400 − 200) × 2 | 400 | Casey, Drew |
Check: 400 + 300 + 400 = 1,100 chips. The players put in 100 + 200 + 400 + 400 = 1,100 chips, so nothing is missing.
Imagine Alex has a flush, Blair has a straight, Casey has three of a kind, and Drew has one pair. Alex wins the 400-chip main pot. Blair wins side pot 1 (300). Casey wins side pot 2 (400). Three different players win chips from the same hand!
How to Handle Side Pots as the Dealer
- Keep track of contributions. Count how much each player put into the hand, including earlier betting rounds.
- Start with the smallest all-in amount. Match that amount from every player who contributed at least that much to build the main pot.
- Make separate side pots. Move to the next all-in amount and repeat with players who contributed enough. Keep each pot physically separate.
- Finish the hand. Players who still have chips may continue betting against each other. All-in players cannot act again.
- Award pots separately. At showdown, compare only eligible hands for each pot. It is often easiest to settle the last side pot first, then work back to the main pot.
Three Important Details
Uncalled chips are returned. If Alex commits 100, Blair 200, and Casey 250, and no one matches Casey's final 50, return those 50 chips to Casey. They are not a prize.
Folded players cannot win. Chips already committed by someone who folds stay in the pot, but their cards are no longer eligible to win any pot.
Ties are handled pot by pot. If two eligible players tie for a pot, split that pot between them according to your game's chip and odd-chip rules. Never combine the main and side pots before awarding them.
Dealer's Quick Reminder
Count, separate, check, award. Count each player's chips, separate the main and side pots, check that their totals add up, and award each pot only to players eligible to win it. If you're dealing a friendly home game, it's fine to stop and count slowly. Getting it right matters more than getting it done quickly.
For more help, see our Texas Hold’em Betting Rules and Poker Hand Rankings guides.