Showdown
The end of a hand, when the players still in turn their cards over and the best hand wins.
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- What it means
- If more than one player is left after the last bet on the river is called, or once everyone left is all in, the hands are shown and the best five-card hand takes the pot.
- How it is calculated
- A hand that ends because everyone else folded has no showdown: the last player wins without showing. Winning that way is what fold equity measures.
- Worked example
- On A♥ 9♣ 4♦ 7♠ 2♣ the river bet is called and 2 players show. A♠ K♦, a pair of aces, beats Q♠ Q♥, a pair of queens.
- Why it matters
- Every bet either tries to win before showdown or to be paid at it, so knowing whether your hand can win when shown is the first question about any bet.
Try it: Poker odds calculator, Poker hand rankings
Lessons that teach it: Seven cards, best five, When kickers decide the winner · lessons other than the free one need an invite
See also: Showdown value, Streets: preflop, flop, turn and river, Hand rankings, Fold equity