Pot
The pot is the total of all the chips that players have bet in a hand. The winner of the hand takes it. In pot-limit games, saying 'pot' means that you bet the size of the pot.
The simple explanation
Everything that players put in goes in the pot: the blinds, the antes and all the bets, calls and raises. The pot grows after each round of betting. The player who wins the showdown, or the last one left, takes it.
A closer look
The size of the pot decides pot odds, bet sizes and risk. Players speak of a 'small pot' or a 'big pot', and they plan their strategy by how large a pot they want. With side pots, there can be more than one pot in a hand. Raking takes a part of the pot in cash games. A skilled player controls the size of the pot depending on his hand strength.
A practical example
The blinds are 1 and 2. A player raises to 6, another calls, and the pot is 12.
Full explanation
The pot is the total of all the chips that players have bet in a hand. The winner of the hand takes it. In pot-limit games, saying ‘pot’ means that you bet the size of the pot.
The pot is all the chips bet in a hand.
The winner takes it.
In pot-limit, ‘pot’ means a pot-sized bet.
Side pots may exist.
Follow the chips into the pot
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The pot already contains 6 from each player: 12 in total.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The pot already contains 6 from each player: 12 in total.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player B bets 6, taking the pot to 18.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Player A calls 6. The pot is now 24: the earlier 12 plus two new contributions of 6.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.