Tool
Side Pot Calculator
Multi-way all-in with different stacks? Calculate the main pot + side pots instantly. Enter each player's all-in amount and see who's eligible for each pot.
Players all-in
Pot breakdown
Guide
How side pots work in poker
When 3+ players go all-in with different stack sizes, the dealer creates side pots to ensure each player only wins what they could match. Below: the rules, the math, the corner cases, and worked examples.
The basic rule
A poker player can only win as many chips from each opponent as they themselves had in front of them at the time of the all-in. If you're all-in for $100 and your opponent has $500 in front of them, you can win at most $100 from that opponent — not $500.
When 3+ players are all-in for different amounts, the chips above the smallest all-in form a side pot that the smallest stack player isn't eligible for.
Worked example: 3-way all-in
- • Player A goes all-in for $100
- • Player B goes all-in for $250
- • Player C calls (and has more behind, but caps at the largest all-in: $250)
Pot breakdown:
- → Main Pot: $100 × 3 = $300. All three players eligible. Best hand among A, B, C wins.
- → Side Pot 1: $150 × 2 = $300. Only B and C eligible (A is out, capped at $100). Best hand between B and C wins.
A can only win the $300 main pot, max. If A has the best hand, A wins $300 and B (or C, whoever has the better hand of those two) wins the $300 side pot.
More complex: 4-way all-in
- • Player A all-in for $50
- • Player B all-in for $150
- • Player C all-in for $400
- • Player D all-in for $700
Pot breakdown:
- • Main Pot: $50 × 4 = $200 (A, B, C, D eligible)
- • Side Pot 1: $100 × 3 = $300 (B, C, D eligible — A is capped)
- • Side Pot 2: $250 × 2 = $500 (C, D eligible — A and B capped)
- • Side Pot 3: $300 × 1 = $300 (D only — D wins it back uncontested since C is capped)
Total: $200 + $300 + $500 + $300 = $1,300 (= $50+$150+$400+$700, all chips accounted for).
Common questions
What's the difference between a main pot and a side pot?
The main pot is the first pot, contested by all all-in players (and any callers). Side pots form when one or more all-in players have different stack sizes — the chips above the smallest all-in form side pots that the smallest stack can't win.
Can the smallest stack win the side pot?
No. The smallest stack is 'capped' at their all-in amount. They can only win chips up to their own all-in (the main pot, in most cases). Any chips above that level form side pots they're not eligible for.
What if a side pot has only one eligible player?
That player wins the side pot uncontested — they get those chips back regardless of what hand anyone shows. This happens when only one player has chips above another all-in level.
Do dealers always announce side pots?
In live cardrooms with a dealer, yes — they'll explicitly say 'main pot is $X, side pot is $Y' before showdown. In home games and online, the software handles it automatically. Either way, the math is the same.
Can side pots split (chop)?
Yes. If two eligible players in a side pot have identical hands, that side pot splits between them. Main and side pots are evaluated independently.
What if everyone but one player folds before showdown in a multi-way all-in?
Same rule — the active player wins each pot they're eligible for. The all-in players still show their hands at showdown to determine main pot eligibility, but if the active player has the best hand, they win everything they're eligible for.
What's the maximum number of side pots possible?
With N players all-in for different amounts, you get at most N pots total (1 main + N-1 side). With 9 players (the typical max at a full-ring table), that's up to 9 separate pots in extreme cases.