Poker Side Pot Calculator
Split main pots and side pots for all-in poker hands. Enter each player's committed chips, eligibility, and finish order to see exact payouts.
Side pot calculator quick answer
A side pot is created when one player is all-in for less than another player has committed. The shortest all-in stack can only win the main pot. Extra chips above that level form side pots contested only by players who contributed to those levels and are still eligible at showdown.
- The main pot is capped at the smallest all-in amount multiplied by every player who matched it.
- Each higher all-in level creates a new side pot.
- Folded players can contribute chips to a pot but cannot win it.
- Ties split only the pot levels where the tied players are eligible.
Side pot example
Three all-in players with different committed amounts create one main pot and two side pots.
| Player | Committed | Eligible pots | What they can win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player A | $25 | Main pot only | Can win the first $75 if all three players matched $25. |
| Player B | $60 | Main pot + first side pot | Can win the main pot and the $70 side pot between B and C. |
| Player C | $100 | All pots | Can win every pot, but only $40 is uncontested if no other player covered it. |
All-in pots are simple once you slice them by stack level
Side pots look confusing because the chips are usually pushed into one messy pile. The math is not messy. Every all-in hand can be rebuilt by sorting the committed amounts from smallest to largest, then creating one pot for each stack level.
The shortest all-in player can never win more than the amount other players matched against them. If they put in $25 and two opponents put in at least $25, the main pot is $75. Any chips above $25 belong to side pots that the short stack cannot win.
The common mistake is awarding the whole table pot to the best hand without checking eligibility. The best hand wins only the pots it is eligible for. A folded player can add dead money to a side pot, but cannot take it back at showdown.
Use this calculator for home games, tournament all-ins, split-pot disputes, and any hand where players have different stack sizes. It is a rules tool, not a strategy tool: first decide who has the best hand, then let the stack levels decide how much each player receives.
Side Pot Calc questions
How do side pots work in poker?
Side pots are built by stack level. First, everyone who matched the shortest all-in amount contributes to the main pot. Then any chips above that level form side pots contested only by players who also committed that much and did not fold.
Can an all-in player win a side pot?
An all-in player can win any pot they contributed to, but not pots formed above their committed amount. If they put in $40, they cannot win a side pot made from chips above $40.
What happens if two players tie in a side pot?
The tied players split the pot level where they are both eligible. Other side pots are still awarded separately based on the eligible players and finish order for those pots.
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