Never Assume a Split Pot

There are many occasions when you know that you and the villain both have the same hand and its a split pot before the hands are turned over. For example often there is a one card straight out there and you both hold an ace for the nut ace high straight.

I have seen this situation so many times when the rake/ pot gets built up for no reason when both have the same hand. The only winner is the poker site in these hands.

About 2 weeks ago this exact situation occurred when the board was TxAKJ and I held KQ for the nuts. The pot was very small and on the river the villain lead out for a tiny bet, like 15% pot or so. I raised and then he re-raised. The pot was small enough to not be enough for max rake and I just assumed a split as he was a reg and called the 3bet instead of 4betting.  I was shocked to see him show 2pair and mad that I potentially missed out on value with the nuts.

In future I will feed the rake just in case they don't hold the nuts even though they are 3betting the river and playing like they have the nuts in a ridonkulous spot.

Today a guy lead out on the river and I assumed it was a chop but I got it all in and guess what, he showed 2pair. He was an unknown though. Here is the hand


Poker Stars $100.00 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players

UTG+1: $52.45
MP1: $56.35
MP2: $173.25
CO: $69.10
BTN: $105.20
SB: $83.70
Hero (BB): $129.45
UTG: $104.50

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BB with J K
6 folds, SB raises to $2.50, Hero calls $1.50

Flop: ($5.00) Q 7 T (2 players)
SB bets $4.00, Hero calls $4

Turn: ($13.00) A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $9.50, SB calls $9.50

River: ($32.00) K (2 players)
SB bets $18.00, Hero raises to $113.45, SB calls $49.70 all in

Final Pot: $167.40

SB shows Q K
Hero shows J K

Hero wins $164.40
(Rake: $3.00)