Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Main Pot
Noun
The pot that all active players have contributed to and that all active players are eligible to win, occurring in a situation where a side pot is created. Separate showdowns occur for each side pot and for the main pot, and players not eligible to win a particular pot do not participate in the showdown for it.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Example: In a particular game Player A has $4, Player B has $20, and Player C has $20. Player A goes all-in with $4, Player B raises to $11, and Player C calls for $11. Because Players B and C have bet more than player A can call, a side pot is created. The side pot is the amount that B and C bet that was not matched by A: $7 each for a total side pot of $14. The main pot is the money that was matched by all players who are still playing: $4 from A, $4 from B, and $4 from C, for a total main pot of $12.
EXAMPLE: "My three of a kind was enough to win the side pot but it was beaten by my opponent's straight in the showdown for the main pot."
APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues