01-10-05, LearnTexasHoldem:

Folding Side Pot, Still In For Main Pot?

Question: Please solve on ongoing dispute I have with a friend over a specific situation regarding side pots during our No Limit Texas Hold 'em tournaments. We have read your answers to similar questions but have not found the exact situation that we need clarifying. I will set up the situation for you. A case of Heineken depends on your answer. Thank you in advance.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Player 1 (has 1000 chips) - calls the 100 in the big blind

Player 2 (has 500 chips) - calls the 100.

Player 3 (has 300 chips) - goes all-in for 300 chips

Player 4 folds.

Player 1 calls the additional 200 chips from Player 3 all-in bet.

Player 2 also calls the additional 200 chips.

The flop comes with three way action: Player 1, Player 2, and Player 3. Each player has 300 chips invested in this hand at this time. After the flop, Player 1 is the first to act.

Player 1 moves all-in (700 chips).

* We know that Player 3 has a chance to win 900 chips if his hand is the best hand.

* We also know that if Player 2 calls the Player 1 bet there would be a side pot in which the best hand between Player 1 and Player 2 would win the side pot (400 chips - 200 from Player 1 and 200 from Player 2. Player 1 would also take back the additional 500 chips he put in the pot that the other players could not cover.) AND the main pot between Player 1, Player 2 and Player 3.

Now here is my question...

What happens if Player 2 folds to Player 1's all-in bet?

If Player 2 folds after Player 1 moves all-in with more chips, does Player 2 have a chance to win the original pot against Player 1 and Player 3???

I believe if Player 2 has chips left he has to call all his chips off to Player 1's all-in bet to have a chance to win the main pot. If he folds, he loses his claim to that pot.

My buddy believes that Player 2 has a claim to Player 3's all-in bet in the main pot because he matched that bet prior to Player 1 going all-in after the flop. He believes that Player 2 does not need to risk all of his chips from the Player 1 all-in bet to have a claim to the original pot.

Who is right?

Answer: You got it right. If Player 1 moves in with his remaining chips and Player 2 doesn't call, Player 2 is completely out of the hand. There are no shades of gray for mucking, it is all or nothing, either you are still in the hand or you are out. When he folds he loses the right to showdown his hand for the main pot or any side pot. Enjoy your case of Heines!

This is an important tactic to remember. If you have a player who goes all-in and there is another person in with you, you can sometimes bet enough to make the other guy fold a better hand and leave you with the all-in player whom you think you have beat. Be sure you understand all-in's if you play no limit holdem because this happens often and you can miss money if you don't recognize the opportunities.

For example, you may not have the all-in player beat but there is still the turn and river so you may actually be able to win a nice pot yet. Not knowing that none of the money you bet now will go to the all-in player is essential.

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