Split Pot
A split pot happens when two or more players tie with the same best five-card hand at showdown, so the pot is divided equally between them.
A split pot, also called a chop, happens when two or more players finish a hand with exactly the same five-card hand. The pot is divided equally among the tied players. In Texas Hold'em this is more common than in many other games because players share five community cards, so the board often makes the deciding part of the hand for everyone.
When does a pot get split?
A tie requires both players' best five cards to match exactly in rank. Suits are never used to break ties. The most common ways it happens:
- The board plays. The five community cards are better than anything any player can make. Example board: 8♠ 9♦ T♣ J♥ Q♠ is a queen-high straight, and anyone without a king plays the board.
- Same hand, same kickers. Two players each hold A-K on a board of A♦ 8♠ 5♣ 3♥ 2♦. Both have aces with K-8-5 kickers.
- Kickers do not play. When the board's cards outrank both players' side cards, the kicker stops mattering.
Worked example
You hold K♣ J♦ and your opponent holds K♥ 9♠. The board is K♠ K♦ 7♣ 7♥ A♣. You both have two pair, kings and sevens, but the ace on the board is the fifth card for both of you because it outranks your jack and their nine. Both hands are K-K-7-7-A, so the pot is split. Had the river been the 3♣ instead of the A♣, your jack would have played and you would have won the whole pot.
How the chips are divided
The pot is divided as equally as the chips allow. If chips cannot be divided evenly, there is an odd chip left over. A common house rule gives the odd chip to the first tied player to the left of the button, but rules vary by venue. With three tied players, the pot is split three ways.
Split pots and side pots
When a player is all-in for less than others, the chips are organised into a main pot and one or more side pots. Each pot is awarded separately. It is possible to split the main pot with the short-stacked player while winning or splitting a side pot with someone else.
Strategy notes
- A tied hand is worth less than you think. If you are likely to chop, you win back roughly your own money minus the cost of the betting, so avoid inflating the pot without an edge.
- Watch out for the board playing. On a board with a straight or flush, check whether your hole cards actually improve on it before betting big.
- Dominated hands chop less often than you hope. Hands like A-J against A-K usually lose rather than split.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if two players have the same hand in Texas Hold'em?
The pot is split equally between them. Suits do not break ties.
Who gets the odd chip in a split pot?
It depends on the house rule. A common rule gives it to the first tied player to the left of the button.
Can more than two players split a pot?
Yes. If three or more players tie with the best hand, the pot is divided among all of them.
Related poker terms
- Kicker — A kicker is a side card that does not form part of a pair or set but still counts in your five-card hand, used to break ties between similar hands.
- Showdown — The showdown happens after the final betting round when two or more players remain. Hands are revealed and the best five-card hand wins the pot.
- Hand Rankings — Poker hand rankings list the ten five-card hands from royal flush down to high card. A rarer hand always beats a more common one.
- Community Cards — Community cards are the five shared cards dealt face up in Texas Hold'em: the flop, turn and river. Every player combines them with their own hole cards.
- All-In — Going all-in means betting every chip you have in front of you. You can't be forced out of the hand, but you can only win what your chips cover.