When you’re playing poker and someone goes all-in, you may hear the term “twice.” This is most common in cash games, so if you mainly play tournaments, you might not have come across it yet. In this article, we’ll explain what “twice” means in poker in a beginner-friendly way.
1. What does “twice” mean?
“Twice” is short for “run it twice.” It refers to an option where, when all players are all-in before the river, the remaining board is dealt two separate times and the pot is split based on the results. Players use it to reduce variance (swings caused by luck).
This option is mainly used in cash games, and the most common rule is that the board is run twice only if every all-in player agrees. Depending on the casino or poker room, rules can vary, such as “only allowed in heads-up pots” or “you can run it three times or more.” It’s a good idea to confirm the house rules in advance.
2. Example of running it twice
Let’s look at how running it twice works in practice. Consider the following situation.
Two players are competing for the pot.
One player goes all-in on the flop, and the other player calls.
If both players agree to run it twice, the turn and river are dealt two separate times. Then the pot is split based on the outcome of each run. In the example image, the right player wins the first run, and the left player wins the second run, so the pot is chopped and each player receives half.
3. Is running it twice good or bad?
Does running it twice change your expected value in chips? Let’s use an example where players get all-in on the turn.
In this spot, the right player is currently ahead. For the left player to win, they need to hit one of five outs on the river: Ah, Ad, Ac, Js, or Jc. Let’s calculate the left player’s expected chip return with and without running it twice.
- If you do not run it twice
There is no possibility of a tie on this board. Out of the 44 unseen cards, the left player wins if one of the 5 outs appears, and loses if any of the other 39 cards appears. So the expected value is 5/44 of the pot.
- If you run it twice
Now let’s find the probability that the left player wins both boards, and the probability they win exactly one board.
- Winning both runs
To win both, you deal two cards from the remaining 44, and both must be outs. The probability is:
(5×4)/(44×43) = 5/473
- Winning exactly one run
To win exactly one, one card must be an out and the other must not be an out. The probability is:
(5×39×2)/(44×43) = 195/946
When you win exactly one run, you only receive half the pot. So the expected value becomes:
1×(5/473) + (1/2)×(195/946) = 5/44
This shows the expected value is the same as not running it twice: 5/44 of the pot.
- Winning both runs
We used a turn all-in example here, but it’s also known that if players get all-in preflop or on the flop, running it twice does not change equity.
Running it twice does not change equity, but you do need to pay attention to rake. In some rooms, running it twice can increase the rake. Reducing variance is appealing, but depending on the rake structure, running it twice can actually cost you money. the rules beforehand.
Key points
- Running it twice does not change equity.
- Running it twice may increase rake and could be unprofitable.
If you want to learn more about rake, see this article:
Conclusion
In this article, we explained what “twice” means in poker. Running it twice reduces swings and can make your results feel more stable, but you can also choose to decline and embrace higher-variance situations for the thrill. Pick the option that fits your style. We hope this guide helped.
