Side Pot

Also known as: Main Pot, Side Pots

A separate pot created when a player is all-in for less than the others. The **main pot** is capped and contestable by everyone; the **side pot** is fought over only by the players with chips left.

Why side pots exist

A player can only win as much as they wagered. So when someone is all-in for less than the others, their chips and a matching amount from each caller go into the main pot. Everything bet beyond that all-in amount goes into a separate side pot.

Who is eligible for what

• Main pot — capped at the short stack's all-in; every player still in the hand can win it, including the all-in player.
• Side pot(s) — contested only by the players who still had chips and kept betting. The all-in short stack is not eligible.

With multiple all-ins of different sizes you get layered side pots, each capped at the next-smallest stack. At showdown the side pot is awarded first, then the main pot. The math of who risks what is set by the effective stack against each opponent.