What Is a Poker Kitty?

In poker, a kitty is the pool of money created by players’ contributions during a hand that is used to award special bonuses, pay for expenses not covered by the pot, or to award the entire pot to a single player. It is also known as a side pot.

The kitty is created when one or more players make a contribution to the pot that is not matched by any other player. For example, if three players are in a hand and one of them bets $10, the other two players each call for $10, and the pot now contains $30.

If the next player then raises $20, only the first two players are required to match this bet – the third player has already contributed their maximum to the pot. As such, a side pot of $20 is created for just these two players.

PRO TIP:A poker kitty is a pool of money, typically built up from blinds and antes, that is used as a prize or to cover expenses for a poker game. The kitty is taken from the pot before it is won and can be used for things like paying for food, drinks, or additional chips if necessary.

The kitty can be used to award special bonuses in the hand, such as when a player hits a certain hand (e.g. four of a kind) or when there is an all-in situation where one player cannot cover the bet of another.

It can also be used to pay for expenses not covered by the pot, such as tournament entry fees or rake. In some cases, the entire kitty may be awarded to a single player, such as when all other players fold to a single bettor.

A kitty can be a useful tool in poker, allowing players to sweeten the pot or provide extra incentive for players to stay in the hand. It can also help cover expenses that would otherwise come out of each player’s own pocket.

However, it is important to remember that any money placed in the kitty is at risk of being lost if the hand does not go as planned.