Active Player
An active player is a player who is still in the hand and has not folded.
The simple explanation
An active player is a player who is still in the hand and has not folded. He is still competing for the pot, even if he is waiting for his turn. Players who folded cannot win it.
A closer look
An all-in player is still in the hand but cannot make further decisions. When there are side pots, an all-in player may be in the main pot but not in a side pot, so being active is judged pot by pot. Counting active players is useful, because the number of opponents changes how strong your hand needs to be.
A practical example
Five players start a hand and two fold. Three players remain active and keep betting.
Full explanation
An active player is a player who is still in the hand and has not folded.
An active player is one who has not folded and still has a chance to win the pot.
The number of active players affects your strategy: more players means that you need a stronger hand.
An all-in player remains active but cannot act further.
The opposite is a folded player.
Who remains in the hand?
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN). Player B posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player C posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.
- Player A BTN KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of hearts (9h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
A folds and is no longer an active player. B and C have not folded: they remain in the hand and can still win the pot.
- Player A BTN KKing of hearts (Kh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Player B SB AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of hearts (9h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.