Have you ever heard of the concept of ‘running it twice’ in poker? If you’re a poker player, odds are you may have come across this term before.
For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, ‘running it twice’ is an optional rule that can be applied in some poker games which allows the remaining community cards to be dealt twice. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what happens when you run it twice in poker and explore the pros and cons of using this strategy.
Firstly, let’s talk about how running it twice works. When players agree to run it twice, the remaining community cards are dealt two separate times.
The pot is then split into two equal parts and each part is treated as a separate pot. The winner of each pot is determined by the best hand at the end of each run.
So why would someone choose to run it twice? The main reason for doing so is to reduce variance and minimize potential losses.
For example, if a player has a strong hand but faces an all-in bet from their opponent, they may choose to run it twice in order to increase their odds of winning at least one of the pots. This can be particularly useful in high-stakes games where players are looking to minimize their risks.
There are also some potential downsides to running it twice. One such downside is that it can slow down the game considerably. Waiting for two sets of community cards to be dealt and resolved can take up a significant amount of time, especially if multiple players are involved in the hand.
Another potential issue with running it twice is that it can sometimes lead to confusion or disputes over who has won each pot. If there are multiple players involved in the hand and both pots have different winners, things can get complicated quickly. It’s important for all players involved in running it twice hands to have a clear understanding of how the process works before agreeing to use it.
So, is running it twice a strategy that you should use in your own poker games? The answer, as with many things in poker, is ‘it depends’.
If you’re playing in a high-stakes game and want to reduce your variance, running it twice can be a useful tool. However, if you’re playing in a more casual game with friends or at a lower stakes table, it may not be necessary.
In conclusion, running it twice is an optional rule in some poker games that allows the remaining community cards to be dealt twice. While it can be useful for reducing variance and minimizing potential losses, it can also slow down the game and lead to confusion or disputes over who has won each pot. Whether or not you choose to use this strategy in your own games will depend on a variety of factors, including the stakes you’re playing for and the preferences of the other players at the table.
