My first dumb question is: at showdown, when is it definitely a split pot? (I'm talking Texas holdem)
Example 1: there is an Ace-high (say spades )flush on the board......is that always a split pot. or, for example, if one of us holds another spade or any other card would that affect it?
Example 2: if the board has, say, quads - is that always a chop (barring my opponent making better quads)?
TBH, I've had a few times when I've been in doubt about this area of the rules, and I know it's something I have to learn 100%
What I want to avoid is someone shoving on me after the River, on the off-chance that I don't realise it MUST be a split pot.
I'd really appreciate any example you could think of where it's definitely a split pot....or any other tricky rules spots I might encounter when making a decision at the river (and I don't even have a pair, but suspect it's going to be a chop)
A player can have better quads than on the board, so you definitely need to watch out. The way to determine if it is definitely a chop is if the 5 card hand on the board cannot be improved upon.
AsKdQcJsTh - is the nut straight, and there is no flush possible. This is a split pot. With any other straight, it is possible that someone has a higher one.
AsKdQsJhTs - is the nut straight, but there are 3 spades, so a flush (even Royal Flush) is possible - this is not necessarily a split pot.
QQQQ5 - this is quads - but anyone having a card higher than a 5 has a better kicker than the board. This is not necessarily a split pot.
QQQQA - this is quads with an ace kicker - this is definitely a split pot.
The only time a flush on board is always a split pot is if it is a Royal Flush. Otherwise it is always possible to have a higher hand.
KQJT9 all spades is a straight flush, but the As makes a Royal. AQJT4 all spades is a flush, but any spade higher than the 4 is a better flush.
AAATT is a full house, but any ace makes quads, TT makes quads, JJ, QQ, KK all make higher full houses. This is not necessarily a split pot.
There are very few times when the board is the best possible hand.
Don’t feel too bad - even experienced players sometimes mess up with spots like these (especially since they are rare). I recall probably the worst bad beat I have ever laid on an opponent. It was a live tournament and I raised AKo pre from the button and the BB called. Flop was 733. BB checked and I jammed for about 3/4 pot. BB snap called and flipped pocket sevens. I figured I was done and when I didn’t get an A or K on the turn I got up and actually started walking away from the table. The dealer put out the river and someone at the table called to me to come back because I had won the pot.
Turns out the turn and river were both threes giving me quad threes with an ace vs BB with quad threes with a 7. It just never occurred to me that runner runner threes would make me a winner; I was thinking I needed runner runner aces or kings.
That helps a ton. When you look at most rule books, they seem to end at 'high card wins'....they never appear to delve into the areas you have kindly shed light on ("shed light on".....this ain't a gardening forum, laddie).
Anyway, really enjoying reading this forum: it's phenomenal. Why didn't I find it before!
The only boards that are always a chop (barring exposed cards) are:
Broadway, no possible flush (most common);
Quads with best kicker (so XXXXA or AAAAK); and
Royal flush.
J
