What Is Run It Twice (And If You Should Give It A Try)
What does it mean to run it twice?
Running it twice is a practice commonly found in No Limit Texas Hold’em or Omaha where the players agree to have the remaining board dealt twice.
In this case the pot is divided by 50%/50%. If there are two players left in the game, depending on the outcomes, one player can win both runs (100% of the initial pot), one run (50% of the initial pot), or none of the runs.
These criteria must be met in order for the run it twice to happen.
- All players chose to run it twice
- All players are all-in
- There are cards left to deal
Most frequently asked questions about run it twice
Once players find there is an option to run it twice these are the most common questions they have:
- Does running it twice change expected value?
- What are the pros and cons of running it twice?
- When should you run it twice?
Run it twice in general does not change your overall expected value. There‘s no effect on the math of the hand. However it does reduce variance. Simply put, it reduces the “ups and downs” of poker when it comes to winning and losing money.
So should you or shouldn‘t run it twice?
The truth is it‘s up to you and your mental state.
If you’re a so-called “now or never” or “all or nothing” guy/girl, then running it twice might not be your cup of tea. However, if you feel like a loss would negatively affect you mentally, go ahead, roll the dice and run it twice.
Also, if you read your opponents well and see that losing all their chips would make them quit the table or go on a tilt, you could be a good sport and give that guy or girl an extra chance when he/she needs it.
As you can see, whether or not to run it twice is 100% your personal decision and it doesn‘t really have any impact on your long term expected value.
Running it twice is a nice variation to a poker game. If you haven‘t tried it yet, give it a go!
