You're a Bunch of Factors

I'm reasonably confidant working out pots myself - if everyone leaves the chips alone, but I'd hardly consider myself an expert on it so I'll put this suggestion out there for others that are a little more down with it than I am.

Could we have a post, with worked examples, on how to work out side pots? Tips from the pros as it were.

Might give a few players more confidence to speak up whilst everything is happening. You can't really practice on line either!

I've seen a few people lately who did not seem to understand what was happening, and when they got short changed, were a bit confused.

Simplest way, is to divide the chip stacks into levels.

So player A all in for 475, Player B all in for 1200, Player C called, Player D all in for 1050

So we do it simply by splitting the chips.
Player A is 475
Player D (being the next all in) is 475 + 575 = 1050
Players B and C is 475 + 575 + 150 = 1200

Now scoop it all up for player A 475 x 4 = 1900
Player D 575 x 3 = 1725
Players B and C = 300

thats the easiest way. don't move the chips until you have the piles in front of the players. Then move them to the lowest chip stacked player first. and so on.

The Intermediate way.
Starting from your top stacks. Last example B and C.
you leave 300 for them. 1200 - 1050 = 300

Player A gets 475 x 4 = 1900

Everything then gets pushed into front of Player D which should be divided by three. in our example there shoul be 1725 which is 575 x 3.

The hardest way.
Push all chips in the middle.
and do the maths in your head.
Player A 475 x 4 = 1900
Player D 575 x 3 = 1725
Player B and C 150 x 2 = 300.

Always helps to know one of the values. Of the values of the bet sizes.

Cheers,
Brett

What are my TD's out there doing?

Side pots are fairly easy:
If there are multiple all ins, count all chip stack size.
Work out what the shortest stack is and then take the equal amount from all other stacks and then move that in front of the SS player. This is the main pot and the first all in.

Using the same method work out all remaining side pots and ensure that you know in which order they can claim side pots and main pots.

At showdown you make all players playing for the first side pot showdown, award the pot to the strongest hand, then work backwards until you award the main pot.

Easy?

I find lots of people forget to include the blinds in their calculations

mr_niceguy_1979 wrote:I find lots of people forget to include the blinds in their calculations

So true.

Usually there's someone at the table that can work out the sidepots, if not we just call over a TD who always knows that they're doing.

AceLosesKing wrote:Usually there's someone at the table that can work out the sidepots, if not we just call over a TD who always knows what they're doing.

except if you play where i do.....

side pots are easy

Luke05(Jamo) wrote:side pots are easy

Ah, but you'd be very surprised at the number of people that can't do simple math to verify their "matching" efforts.

I was after exactly what Brett provided. I thought it would be useful to have someone lay it out clearly, so I can direct players who are a little funny about it all here. I'm not able to articulate the process as well as other, obviously.

I'm comfortable with it tho, however once people start applying their own little methods and moving chips and changing them up, I can get a little lost - I usually just made sure I'm covered for my table equity at that stage.

So, thanks Brett

Pleasure to be of help.

The way I was taught was to work out side pots, was to start with the smallest bet that was all in, then take that amount from each player still involved. Just repeat the step until it is sorted out.
eg: Player A all in 475, Player B All in for 1200, Player C calls and Player D all in 1050.
First off take 475 form each player, this becomes the main pot
(475 x 4)=1900.
Now with 3 players remaining you take 575 from the remaining 3 players (575 x 3)=1725, becomes sidepot 1.
The remaining chips are between Player B and Player C.
This ebing the last side pot of 300.