The first time I heard about “running it twice” was watching an episode of High Stakes Poker. Two players agreed to run multiple river cards, and suddenly, there were two rivers instead of one, pots getting chopped, and a bunch of excitement around the table.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but the option to run it multiple times is an excellent addition to poker. To begin, let’s answer the burning question:
What Is Running It Twice?
When two players are all-in and agree to “run it twice”, the remaining board will get dealt twice. Half the pot will be awarded to the player who wins the first board, and the other half of the pot will go to the player who wins the second board. So a player could lose both boards and walk away with none of the pot, win 1/lose 1 and get half of the pot, or win both boards and scoop the entire pot.
Running it twice requires all three things:
- The poker room allows players to run it multiple times
- All involved players are all-in
- All players agree to run it twice
Running it twice is not an option in all poker rooms nor on all poker sites, so be sure to ask the floor (or check your siteโs rules) before jumping into the action. In select spots, you may be able to run it even more than just twice (three, four, etc. times) – but these are the exceptions NOT the rule.
To get deeper into this, either keep reading or push play, and I’ll break it down further.
Run It 2X Example
Take an example where you get it all-in on the turn vs one player and you both agree to run it twice. What happens next?
Two rivers will be dealt.
Half of the pot is awarded to the player who wins the first river. The other half of the pot is awarded to the player who wins the second river.
But if you both get it all-in on the flop and decide to run it twice, you would deal two different turn & river runouts. Note that you do NOT shuffle cards back into the deck at any point while running multiple boards.
It’s also possible to run it twice when you get it all-in preflop. In that case, you would run a complete board (flop, turn, and river) and then another complete board. Sending half the pot to the player that wins the first board and the other half of the pot to the player that wins the second board.
What Does Run It Once Mean?
Running it once is the default for online and live poker games. When you run it once you deal out the remaining board like normal with a single flop, single turn card, and single river card.
For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen the option to run it multiple times in tournament poker. So tournaments run it once, while cash games sometimes offer the option to run multiple boards.
Decreasing Poker Variance
One of the major upsides is that running it twice lowers your variance. What does this mean? Take a simple situation where you flip a coin. If you flip it once and guess heads, you have a 50%/50% shot of winning the coin flip. But because you will only flip that coin one time, you will either win 100% or 0% in this single run.
Flip that same coin twice, and you get closer to the true expectation. When you flip the coin once you either win or you lose. When you flip the coin twice, you can lose both, win both, or win one. Getting you closer to the long-term expectation of a 50/50 coin flip. This decreases your overall variance.
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On top of lowering variance, players may be more likely to get it all-in with less equity when they know you will run it twice.
Unstudied players think their chances of winning the pot go up as they run it more times, but this simply is not true based on what we’ve already spoken about. So if running it twice can encourage that same player to get it all-in with a weaker hand – that can be a benefit to your overall expected value.
Your odds of winning the pot do not go up or down when you run it multiple times. You just get closer to the expectation of your equity at the point of getting it all-in. The overall EV is NOT impacted by dealing out multiple boards.
My 1-Minute Rule Of “Doing Business”
The biggest thing that deters me from doing business is the proficiency of the dealer. A strong dealer can run it multiple times, keep clear track of the pot, and keep the game moving without a hiccup. If you ask a weak dealer to run it twice, you run the risk of it taking them 9 minutes to figure out what that means and another 17 minutes for them to figure out how to split the pot.
Ultimately, this can slow the game to a crawl. And if you are playing a game like PLO or Big O that already has low hands/hr – this can be excruciating.
Along that same line, it can take time to negotiate this in a live setting. Especially when trying to explain to a newer player what running it twice even means – this takes time and slows down the game. Since live games are already so slow – it is often better to run it once this time, explain to the other player during the next hand what running it twice is, and then let them decide the next time it comes up.
My general rule of thumb is that if it would take more than 1 minute to explain and negotiate running it multiple times – just avoid it and run it once. And of course, if you are playing online and have the option to run it multiple times, slowing the game down is not a factor.
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Get Your Live Cash Workbook TodayApplying Pressure By Running It Once
There are some players that feel it is better to only run it once to apply maximum pressure to a player with a short bankroll. The idea is to apply pressure and put their bankroll at risk if they run bad in a few key pots. A few things to note about this:
- Good players use bankroll management, and thus, this does not really apply against them.
- If a recreational player loses their bankroll, they may leave poker altogether.
- A player who would fold their equity share incorrectly unless given the option to run it twice likely has huge leaks in their strategy. Applying pressure by denying them the option to run it twice is just one insignificant way to exploit your edge against them.
I do not want this to turn into a conversation about the poker ecosystem and ways to preserve it, but denying a player the chance to run it twice rarely has the intended effect. A bad player is going to lose money over time, and introducing them to an earlier exit in poker does not benefit anyone.
The Psychology Of Running It Twice
Running it twice also carries significant psychological implications for certain opponents.
For some players, the opportunity to reduce variance by running it twice can lead to a more relaxed and less stressful playing experience. Knowing that there’s a chance to recover part of the pot can make players more comfortable with getting all-in, potentially leading to a more dynamic and aggressive game.
Conversely, some players may feel that running it twice diminishes the psychological pressure that can be a strategic tool in poker. The threat of losing an entire pot in a single run can be a powerful motivator, and reducing this risk might lead opponents to make calls they would otherwise avoid.
Additionally, the decision to run it twice can affect table image and dynamics. Players who consistently opt to run it twice may be perceived as more risk-averse, which could influence how others play against them.
Understanding these psychological factors is crucial for players aiming to use the practice to their advantage.
The Social Implication
Since running it twice is typically a live/casino cash game option, it’s important to mention the social implications of running it multiple times. When playing live, I either decide to run it twice in all spots vs. everyone at that table – or I decide to only run it once in all spots vs. all players at the table.
It can be very socially awkward to choose to do business vs one player but not another – and it can create a social rift that does not favorably impact the game.
Your goal in live or casino poker games is to keep the game flowing, keep people happy, and avoid negative social interactions that turn recreational players away from the game. Remember that emotions can peak when players are all-in, which also means these situations have a higher chance of imprinting in their memory. Let’s make sure those imprints are as positive as possible.
There really is only one player type who I dislike when it comes to running it twice, and that is the player who gets it all-in on the turn and will run it twice when they have a flush draw vs their opponentโs set. But in that same spot would only run it once when they have the set vs a flush draw.
Do NOT be this person.
Make the decision to do business in all spots, whether you are ahead or behind, or do not do business at all.
Do I Run It Two Times?
As a pure default, yes, I do run it twice. In fact, give me the option to run it even more times and I do that as well. I very much enjoy lowering variance and I find it keeps the game more social.
Now, the time factor mentioned earlier is vital. When I play live cash games (especially at the WSOP where there is a higher-than-normal percentage of new dealers) I make the decision within the first couple of hands of a down if the dealer could even handle running it twice. I never want to be the cause of the game slowing down, especially when playing slower games like Big O – so time management is a primary concern. I would suggest only running it once if the dealer seems weak and likely unable to handle doing business.
Conclusion
Running it twice is a great way to lower variance and keep a game more social. If it ends up increasing the table’s motivation to gamble a bit more, even better!
Just remember to ensure that your poker room allows running it multiple times and avoid doing so it would slow the game down too much or create too much confusion for greener players. You can always run it once this time, explain what running it twice means later, and give them the option to run it twice later if an opportunity arises.
Also, note that some rooms only allow running it twice starting at certain stakes. I’ve played in many live rooms around the US that allow players to run it multiple times starting at $2/$5, but do not allow it at $1/$2 (which is the case in the main room where I play for my $1/$2 poker VLOG fwiw).
Either way, the decision to run it multiple times is 100% yours. Just be consistent, have good reasoning, and good luck either way!
Should You Agree to Run It Twice?
As covered above, running it twice doesn’t change your EV. The math is the same either way. So the decision is really about variance, not edge.
Here’s a simple framework for deciding:
Run it twice if: You’re deep-stacked, the pot is large relative to your bankroll, or you’re a favorite and want to reduce the chance of a bad beat wiping out a big chunk of your session. Running it twice protects your edge across more cards.
Run it once if: You’re behind and want maximum variance. If you’re a significant underdog, running it once gives you a better shot at getting lucky on a single runout. Running it twice just locks you closer to your actual equity — which is bad when your equity is low.
It usually doesn’t matter if: The pot is small relative to your stack, or you have roughly 50% equity. In those cases, the variance reduction is minimal and the decision is essentially a coin flip either way.
One practical note: at most $1/$2 and $2/$5 live games, running it twice isn’t offered. It tends to be available at $5/$10 and above, and at many card rooms it has to be agreed upon before the cards are dealt. Ask the floor if you’re unsure of the house rules.
Where Is Running It Twice Allowed?
Not every game or poker room allows it. Here’s the general breakdown:
Live cash games: Higher-stakes rooms ($5/$10+) are most likely to offer it. Some $2/$5 games allow it, but it’s uncommon at $1/$2. Always check with the floor before assuming it’s an option.
Online poker: Several major sites allow running it multiple times, including PokerStars and GGPoker. It’s usually opt-in via your settings — you and your opponent both have to agree before the hand.
Home games: Entirely up to the host and players. If everyone agrees, anything goes. Just make sure the rules are clear before the money goes in.
Tournaments: Not allowed. Tournaments use a single runout, no exceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does running it twice change my long-run results?
No. Your EV is the same whether you run it once or twice. Running it twice just reduces variance — you’ll win closer to your actual equity percentage more consistently, but you won’t win more money over time.
What happens if one player wins both boards?
They scoop the entire pot. Running it twice doesn’t guarantee a split — it just gives two independent chances to determine who wins each half. A big favorite will scoop both boards often, and an underdog will sometimes lose both.
Can you run it twice on the flop?
Yes. If players are all-in on the flop, running it twice means dealing two separate turn and river combinations. Each runout is dealt independently, with no cards shuffled back into the deck between boards.
Is it rude to decline running it twice?
No. You’re never obligated to run it multiple times. It requires both players to agree, and either player can decline without it being a breach of etiquette. That said, most players are happy to offer the option — it keeps recreational players in the game longer, which is good for everyone.
Should I always run it twice as the favorite?
Generally yes, especially in large pots. The bigger the pot relative to your stack, the more it makes sense to reduce variance when you have the best of it. But it’s not a hard rule — stack depth, bankroll, and game dynamics all factor in.
