Five basic actions
The actions available on your turn depend on the situation.
- Fold: leave the hand and give up your claim to the pot.
- Check: pass the action when there is no outstanding bet to match.
- Bet: open voluntary betting for the round.
- Call: match the required amount, or go all-in if your stack is shorter.
- Raise: increase the current bet after accounting for the call.
No-limit, pot-limit and fixed-limit
In no-limit, the maximum commitment is bounded by the player's available stack. In pot-limit, the maximum raise depends on the pot and call amount. Fixed-limit uses specified betting units. Minimum raises and whether a short all-in reopens action follow the applicable rules.
A pot-limit example
The pot starts at 100 and an opponent bets 50, making it 150. You have not contributed this round and face a call of 50. After calling, the pot would be 200, so you may raise by up to 200: a total commitment of 250.
These numbers illustrate a rule, not betting advice. Existing contributions, multiway action and uncalled amounts can change the calculation.
An all-in does not contest every chip
Example: the cumulative contributions during this betting round are A 50, B 120 and C 200. Matching 50 from each of the three players creates a main pot of 150. B and C each match another 70, creating a side pot of 140. C's unmatched 80 is returned.
A can win only the main pot. B and C can contest the main pot and the relevant side pot. A folded player's contributed chips remain in the pot, but that player cannot win it.
Worked example: different players can win the main and side pots
This standard Hold’em showdown example has three players, A, B and C, and none has folded. Before unmatched chips are returned, their total contributions for the whole hand are A 50, B 120 and C 200, with no other contributions. This is a settlement ledger, not a replay of the betting order. All amounts are teaching chips; rake, Jackpot deductions and other fees are excluded.
The board is K♣ J♦ 9♠ 5♥ 2♣. A holds K♥ K♦ and plays K-K-K-J-9; B holds J♣ J♥ and plays J-J-J-K-9; C holds 9♣ 9♦ and plays 9-9-9-K-J. All have three of a kind, with A stronger than B and B stronger than C. Each pot is compared only among players eligible to win it.
- Return first: B has the highest total contribution among the other players, 120. C therefore has 200 − 120 = 80 that no other player matched. Return this 80 to C. It is not a prize or another pot to contest.
- Main pot: 50 × 3 = 150. A, B and C are eligible. A has the highest three of a kind, kings, and receives the 150 main pot.
- Side pot: (120 − 50) × 2 = 140. Only B and C are eligible. B’s three jacks beat C’s three nines, so B receives the 140 side pot. A has the strongest hand overall but cannot contest this side pot.
- Chips received: A 150, B 140 and C 80. The total 150 + 140 + 80 = 370 matches the original 50 + 120 + 200 = 370. C’s 80 is only the unmatched return.
- Net changes: A gains 150 − 50 = 100, B gains 140 − 120 = 20 and C loses 200 − 80 = 120; 100 + 20 − 120 = 0. Chips received and net gain are different. Neither a return nor your own original contribution is extra profit.
Rules may vary between platforms, tables and events. This guide explains common rules; available games, eligibility and dispute procedures are determined by the platform's official announcements.
Keep exploring
This guide was independently compiled in Chinese. The following sources let you verify the rules.
WSOP 2026 official rules: all-ins and side pots (page 35)(new window)Official Poker TDA rules(new window)