What is Run it twice in Poker

Introduction

In the world of poker, ‘running it twice’ has become a well-known strategy that is commonly used in high-stakes tournaments and cash games. This technique helps to minimize fluctuations and offer players an equitable outcome when all chips are at risk prior to laying down the final card. Here’s a closer look at how it works and why players might choose to run it twice.

What is ‘run it twice’?

When playing poker, the phrase ‘run it twice’ describes an instance where participants agree to draw the remaining cards from the deck twice after completing all betting rounds. This choice is commonly utilized in games with high-stakes or when there is a large amount of money involved.

By agreeing to run it twice, players effectively divide the pot into two distinct halves that are then awarded according to each remaining set of cards. The primary purpose of this practice is to lessen variance and minimize the influence of chance over a brief period.

Objective

In poker, running it twice aims to reduce variance and divide risk. By choosing to expose the remaining community cards two times, players aim at reducing the effects of luck in high-stakes cash games. This approach divides the prize pool into halves with each run determining which player wins one half. The act of running it twice helps players control their exposure to danger, improve equity realization while also creating a more balanced and captivating playing atmosphere.

How Run it Twice works

Here's how running it twice typically works -

Initiating the Agreement

Players must come to an agreement, either verbally or through a predetermined house rule, before revealing any additional community cards or proceeding to showdown if they wish to run the hand twice.

Dealing Additional Community Cards

After the agreement has been settled, the dealer will distribute two sets of community cards from the deck. In Texas Hold'em for instance, if players decide to run it twice upon seeing the flop, then doubled turns and rivers are dealt by said dealer.

Outcome Determination

Following the distribution of extra cards for every round, results are calculated individually. Subsequently, players adhere to traditional poker regulations as they evaluate their hands in order to discern victorious outcomes per round.

Pot Division

Afterwards, the pot is split in two equally sized portions. These are then awarded to each respective victor of the runs conducted. In case one player obtains victory on both occasions, he can take home all of the winnings from said pot. 

Result

Once both runs are finished and the pot is distributed appropriately, the current hand ends, paving way for the commencement of a new one.

Run it Once

In this method, the remaining community cards are dealt only once and the hand's outcome is solely determined by that set of cards. The victorious player who wins that sole run takes home the entire pot.

Run it Thrice

The act of running the game thrice operates on a similar basis as running it twice. However, there is an added playthrough to determine how the leftover cards will impact results. The pot gets evenly divided into thirds and each portion corresponds with one run's outcome. Employing this strategy diminishes uncertainty even more than using solely two runs, making it an extremely cautious choice by comparison.

Run It Twice Example

Player A and Player B are the only remaining players in a No-Limit Texas Hold'em cash game hand. The board reveals 5♠️, 6♠️, and 7♦, with both participants having already put considerable chips into the pot. Player A possesses an open-ended straight draw of cards consisting of an 8 balanced by a 9 suited diamond - while Player B holds onto two similarly ranked 7s comprised of clubs and hearts.

Contract

Player A and Player B have decided to run it twice before reaching the showdown in order to minimize variance during this pivotal hand.

Distributing the Extra Community Cards

Two rounds of the turn and river cards are dealt by the dealer. During the initial round, J♠️ appears in the turn card while 3♦️ is revealed as a river card. In contrast, during the subsequent run, Q♠️ surfaces on top of 10 ♣️ after being served as a turning point.

Determining the Outcome

Following every run, the players assess their hands to ascertain who emerges victorious.

On the initial round, Player A had an 8♠️ and a 9♦️. They later added a J♠️ and a 3 ♦. This improved his hand to create a straight of 5-6-7-8–9 with both river and turn cards. Despite this improvement, Player B's set of sevens remained dominant over Player A's straight.

In the second round, despite having a turn and river card of 10♣️ and Q♠️ respectively, Player A's hand failed to improve. Meanwhile, Player B maintained their unbeatable set of sevens.

Division of Pot

Player B wins the whole pot, encompassing both halves from running twice, as his hand emerged victorious in both runs. All chips present in the pot prior to settling on two rounds are accumulated by Player B.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘run it twice’ mean in poker?

In poker, to "run it twice" is an arrangement among players where the remaining community cards are dealt two times after all betting rounds have ended. This allows for splitting of the pot into two parts based on each outcome instead of relying solely on a single set of community cards for determining a winner. Running it twice is typically employed in high-stakes games as it helps minimize short-term luck and variance.

Is it better to run it once or twice?

The question of whether one should run it once or twice is subjective and depends on multiple variables such as the particular context, participants, and their inclinations. Running it more than once has proven to be beneficial in terms of reducing volatility and mitigating abrupt inconsistencies in outcomes. This might appeal particularly to players who are looking for ways to minimize risk exposure. Nonetheless, certain individuals opt for running a single round out of respect towards fair play principles or with an aim at amplifying their competitive edge against opponents.

What is the math behind running it twice?

It is fairly simple to understand the mathematical concept of running it twice in poker. When players opt for this option, the pot gets divided into two equal parts, with each half being distributed based on how each run of remaining cards turns out. Although mathematically speaking, there is not much change in terms of overall expected value (EV) by using this method. However, it does bring down variance and increases chances for players to use their equity over an extended period.

Does running it twice affect EV?

The act of running it twice does not have an inherent impact on the expected value (EV) of a hand. This value is established based on the associated payouts and probabilities for various outcomes. In cases where players opt to run it twice, each individual outcome's EV remains unchanged. Nonetheless, this practice can affect variance in results that measures how much deviation occurs from anticipated values. By introducing fresh possibilities with divided pots, such repeated runs may decrease a game's overall variability- therefore affecting strategies and tolerance levels for risk-taking among its participants accordingly.

Conclusion

When players run it twice, they strategically choose to minimize the effect of short-term luck. They divide the pot into two parts, effectively reducing variability in the hand's outcome and potentially evening out fluctuations for everyone involved – whether winning or losing. It is essential to understand that not all poker games permit running it twice. The guidelines may vary depending on house rules or player consent before gameplay commences. Moreover, specific variations or tournaments can disallow running things repeatedly because of distinct regulations or stipulations prohibiting this practice.