What is a split (pot division) in poker, and when does it happen?

Understanding the mechanics of a split helps you correctly assess hand strength and avoid mistakes when calculating expected profit. In this article, you'll learn how and when a split pot happens. 

When does a split pot happen? 

Players have identical hole cards

The most common scenario.

Let's look at an example:
Fedor has A♦️K♦️, and his opponent Andrey has A♠️ K♠️

Board: J♦️ Q♦️ 10❤️ 2♠️ 5♠️
Both players have made a straight, and the pot will be split evenly between them.

There are also situations with a partial card overlap

For example:

Klim has A❤️ 7❤️, and Lera has A♠️ 5♠️

Board: 6❤️ 6 ♠️4♣️ 4♦️ К♦️
Klim might have thought he was winning the hand, since he has the better kicker, but a combination is made up of only five cards, so both players made two pair with an A kicker, and the pot will be split.

The exact same situation would occur on the board A♦️ K ♦️Q♣️ T♣️ 2♣️
Both players would make a combination of a pair of aces, a king, a queen, and a ten. Klim's better kicker doesn't make it into the five best cards for forming the combination. 

The combination is made entirely by the board

If hand strength is determined solely by the cards on the table, the hole cards don't matter.

For example, on the board A❤️K❤️Q❤️J❤️T❤️ there's a royal flush available to all players, so their hole cards don't matter. This situation often happens when there's a straight or flush on the board made up of five cards. 

Partial split: splitting part of the pot

Sometimes one player wins the main part of the pot, while the rest is split among the other players in the hand. Imagine a situation in which three players went all-in preflop:

Klim went all-in for 20 big blinds with A❤️J❤️, Andrey went all-in for 30 big blinds with A♠️Q♠️, and Fedor, whose stack was larger than Andrey's, called and showed A♦️Q♦️.

In that case, all three opponents are competing for a main pot of 60 big blinds, while only Fedor and Andrey are playing for a side pot of 20 big blinds.

Board: A♣️J♣️5❤️2❤️8♦️

Klim, with two pair, will take the main pot, while the side pot will be split between Fedor and Andrey, because they have identical combinations.

Conclusion

A split is a normal part of playing Hold'em. A split pot happens when several players have the same final combination, or when the combination is determined entirely by the cards on the table. Understanding the principle of splitting helps you avoid mistaken expectations and calculate your postflop strategy more accurately.

If you want to truly understand poker and win over the long run, submit an application and take the free FF Start course — there you'll find more useful training materials and get your starting bankroll. 

FAQ

Can there be a split pot with a flush?

Yes, if there are 5 cards of the same suit on the board and none of the players have a higher hole card of that suit. 

What happens at showdown if two opponents have identical combinations, but one of them has a higher kicker?

The kicker only counts if it's part of the final five cards. If the player's kicker made it into the top five cards, they'll win the hand. If not, the pot will be split.

Can you win the pot if part of the combination is shared?

Yes. For example, by the kicker or a higher flush.