Streamed cash games, such as Hustler Casino Live, High Stakes Poker, have grown significantly in popularity over the last few years. These games can range in stakes, with some pots up into hundreds of thousands of dollars and beyond.
Fans tuning in see wild action in these poker games, which can include rules not typically seen in tournaments, such as running it twice in poker.
This feature is unique to the world of cash games and may be puzzling for new players.
What does running it twice mean in poker?
Keep reading to find out.
Running it Twice in Poker
Those accustomed to playing Texas Hold’em probably know that each player receives two cards. They can play using the flop, turn, and river.
Of the players left in after the river, the winner takes the entire pot. Things typically work that way in both cash games and tournaments.
However, some cash games allow “running it twice” - especially in high-stakes games that poker fans may have seen streaming online.
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When running it twice, two players, who are all-in before the flop, agree to see two complete boards – flop, turn, and river.
The winner of the first board takes half the pot, and then the winner of the second flop takes the other half. If one player wins both, they take the entire pot.
In these types of poker games, players can also decide to run it twice after getting it all in on the flop, seeing two turn and river cards in this scenario.
Rules of Engagement for Running It Twice
Why would two players agree to run it twice in poker? The players may want to reduce variance in these high-dollar situations.
Here are a few things to remember when it comes to running twice:
- Both players must agree to run it twice.
- At least one player must be all-in.
- The players must alert the dealer of their intent.
- The casino must allow players to run it twice.
- The winners of each board take half the pot.
- Players will see two complete sets of community cards – two flops, two turn cards, two rivers. If they move all-in on the flop, they can agree to run two turn and river cards.
- Running it twice can help players limit tough losses that might lead to tilt.
- The move can also help keep players in the game, rather than losing a huge stack and leaving the table.
Strategy Considerations for Running It Twice
While some players may want to run it twice when all their chips are on the line, not everyone will agree. Some believe they have the better hand and want to see how things would have played out – a “live and let live” attitude.
Others don’t run it twice. Therefore, their opponents may reconsider investing a significant amount of money in any poker hand against this type of player.
Beginning players or those who feel an opponent might outmatch them may reject an offer to run it twice in poker, especially when holding a better hand. This ahead player is in the driver’s seat and may feel that a similar opportunity against a superior player would be infrequent.
The chance of cashing in may be too much to allow an opponent to walk away with half the pot.
That said, the best poker players of all time will tell you that the best hand preflop isn’t always the winner at showdown. However, the ahead player may be willing to take the risk for a massive payday.
Running It Thrice and Other Anomalies
Other players may want to reduce their variance even more, and it’s not unheard of to occasionally see players run it three times.
This play guarantees that one player will win most of the pot, raking in two-thirds of the chips in play.
The Look of Collusion
There are occasional concerns with running it twice. Some players may appear to be colluding if they’re always willing to take this option against a particular opponent, and not others.
This look can seem like favouritism and may not be fair to the other players at the table.
Running Two River Cards
Another option that players may use is simply running two river cards. Players often use this option in high-octane situations where both hands could go either way.
As with running it twice in poker in a typical cash game, players will see two distinct river cards, without the extra flops and turns.
This act can reduce some poker probability variance, making it much more difficult for the player behind to take half the pot on the river, due to the reduced number of extra cards.
A player in command of the hand may be willing to run two rivers if their hand is likely to be sucked out on.
Examples – Poker Running It Twice
There are many examples of huge hands in streamed cash games that involve running it twice. Sometimes, running it twice results in bad luck for the player who was ahead.
For example, this hand on PokerGO’s high-stakes poker saw both players run two turn and river cards twice.
- Poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau was behind with ace-king but found an ace and king on the first runout.
- He then found another king on the second runout as well, taking the entire pot for almost $40,000.
A similar runout saw Alan Keating’s pocket kings stay ahead, despite running the river twice in this hand below. The result was Keating taking down a record pot of $1.4 million.
Straddling in Poker Cash Games
Along with running it twice in poker, viewers of livestreamed cash games may see the concept of "straddling." This feature is a blind bet before the cards are dealt and is usually twice the big blind.
Players typically straddle on the button or to the left of the button. Exact rules depend on the cardroom, but some streamed cash games occasionally allow players to straddle from any seat.
Why would someone want to straddle, raising blind in essence, without seeing any cards?
The player who straddles acts last before the flop. The straddler can raise, check, or fold when it’s their turn to act, depending on the previous action.
The move also helps build a larger pot, becoming a third blind, which means players will have to call more to see the flop. This straddle feature can cause some players to become more aggressive with more chips in the pot.
Players may need to adjust their own preflop strategies, as some prefer to straddle because it adds more risk to the game – the antithesis of poker GTO.
Like poker running it twice, straddling isn’t allowed in tournaments.
Cash game poker is fun and exciting, and these moves only add to the fun.
Perhaps it's time to include running it twice or straddling in your next home game.
