One of the great things about Texas Hold 'Em is how close the hands are due to the fact that five of the seven cards are shared. As a result, it is likely that there will be times when there are ties for the best hand. When this occurs, the plot is simply divided among those players who tied for having the best hand. Any chips that cannot be further divided among all of the tied players will sweeten the pot for the next hand.
To keep things moving along at a nice pace, it is helpful if bets are NOT immediately thrown into the pot when made. Instead, when an opening bet is made, place the bet immediately in front of you and then allow for the bet to be called or raised. Once all bets and raises have been called in a round of betting, then the chips may be moved into the pot in the middle of the table. The reasons for doing it this way are two-fold: (1) it allows for everyone to see the bet being made and (2) should someone go ALL-IN, it helps in creating side pots to handle the payoff.
Now about ALL-IN and side pots, there will be plenty of these as this is a NO LIMIT tournament and people will be getting eliminated. When someone goes ALL-IN (whether it be on a bet or in paying one of the required blinds), a side pot is immediately created to distinguish between money that could be won by someone who is ALL-IN and money available to be won be everyone else.
Here is an example: Let's say I only have $150 in chips left and we are at the stage where the blinds are 50-100. Ryan is in the small blind spot and puts out $50 and Joe is the big blind and puts out $100. I play by calling the big blind with $100 (I now have only $50 left). Everyone else folds, while Ryan calls by adding another $50 and Joe checks. $300 goes into the pot. Out comes the flop and Ryan bets $100 (which would be the minimum bet allowed at this point). Joe calls and so do I. My call is only $50 though since that is all that I have left. We each put $50 into the main pot while Joe and Ryan put $50 a piece into a side pot. I may not make any other bets and only have the option of winning the main pot, which now has $450 in it. All subsequent bets by Joe and Ryan are made in the side pot. If I end up having the best hand, I win the $450 pot. Then whoever between Joe and Ryan has a better hand wins the side pot. If one of them would fold at any point, the one still standing would get everything in the side pot. If Ryan has the best hand of the three of us, then he wins both the side pot and the main pot and I have been eliminated.
Since you never know when someone may go ALL-IN, that's why it's best to keep your bets out of the pot until the betting round has completed.
Check back tomorrow when I discuss dealer rules and responsibilities.
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