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Basics

Pot

The total amount of chips in the center of the table that players are competing for.

James Carter
James CarterVerified

iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst

What Is Pot?

The pot grows as players post blinds, antes, and place bets throughout each betting round. At showdown, the pot is awarded to the player with the best hand, or it can be won earlier if all other players fold. In split-pot games or ties, the pot may be divided between two or more players according to the game's rules.

Examples

1

The final pot topped 50,000 chips after multiple streets of aggressive betting.

2

Both players split the pot evenly after showing identical winning hands.

Strategy Tips

Keep a running estimate of the pot size throughout a hand to inform your betting and pot odds calculations. Use pot-sized or fractional pot bets deliberately to shape the size of future pots based on your hand strength. Be aware of side pots in multi-way all-in situations, since not every player is eligible for the entire pot. Track pot growth relative to your remaining stack to plan your strategy across multiple streets.

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