What Does It Mean in Poker to "Run It Twice"? An In-Depth Expert Guide

Hey friend! As a fellow poker enthusiast, I know you‘ll appreciate this comprehensive look at what it means to "run it twice" in our favorite game. Stick with me through all 2500+ words here, and you‘ll become an expert on this intriguing poker concept.

The Core Idea

When players "run it twice" in poker, they are agreeing to deal out the remaining cards/streets twice and split the pot evenly between the two runouts.

So instead of just playing out the hand normally in a single board runout, they play it out twice and divide the pot based on who wins each individual runout.

This simple idea can have big implications on game dynamics and strategy. Let‘s dive deeper!

A Clear Example Hand

Here‘s a step-by-step look at how running it twice works in a sample Texas Hold‘em hand:

• Preflop: Player A picks up pocket aces (A♥A♦) and goes all-in for $100. Player B looks down at K♠Q♠ and calls all-in for $100.
• Flop (J♦ 8♣ 3♥): The flop comes and Player A still has the lead with his overpair of aces. The players discuss and agree to run it twice.
• Runout 1: The turn is dealt 4♠ and the river 2♣. Player A‘s aces hold up for the best hand.
• Runout 2: The turn is 9♣ and the river K♥. Player B makes a king-high pair to win runout #2.
• Result: Player A wins $50 from runout #1, Player B wins $50 from runout #2. The $200 pot is split evenly between the two runouts.

Hopefully this gives you an intuitive sense of how it works. Now let‘s get into the juicy stuff!

Key Reasons Players Agree to Run It Twice

There are two major factors that motivate players to run it twice:

1. Reduce Variance

This is the big one. While running it twice does not change the players‘ overall equity or EV in the hand, it does reduce variance and swinginess.

Rather than one player potentially losing their entire stack on a bad beat, the pot gets chopped up to dampen the swings.

No one wants to lose a $10k pot just because their opponent got unbelievably lucky on the river. Running it twice provides some insurance against the suckouts.

2. Hedge Against "Action Killers"

Related to the variance point, running it twice eliminates the chances of one player losing their entire stack on a cooler hand. No one wants to be felted and have their game killed just because of bad luck.

You‘re much less likely to witness those game-changing cooler moments if the pot gets split between two runouts rather than awarded in full to the luckiest player.

Arguments For and Against the Procedure

Let‘s examine the pros and cons of running it twice to understand why some players love it while others hate it:

Arguments For:

• Reduces damaging swings and bad beat stories
• Smoothes out bankroll fluctuations
• Removes some luck element to reward skilled play
• Can be gentlemen‘s agreement to reduce animosity over suckouts

Arguments Against:

• Reduces gambling excitement and drama
• Game is supposed to have variance – don‘t neutralize it
• Caters too much to minimizing risk over maximizing edge
• Recreational players see it as unlucky

As you can see, good cases exist on both sides. Some players crave the pure gambling thrill, while others prefer reducing the luck factor.

When Do Players Typically Consider Running It Twice?

Based on my experience, here are the key situations that prompt players to propose running it twice:

• Stacks are super deep relative to the blinds (100bb+ stacks)
• Massive pot size at stake relative to stack depths
• One player is a huge 80%+ favorite but still vulnerable
• Opponents respect each other and want to avoid a cooler
• Ultra-swingy scenarios like set-over-set or nut flush draw vs. overpair

The deeper the effective stacks and the bigger the pot, the more allure there is to running it twice. Why risk your entire tournament life on a single runout when you could chop the pot?

On the flip side, when stacks are shallow or the pot is small, players are less likely to run it twice. At that point the reduced variance isn‘t worth the diminished excitement.

Optimal Strategy Considerations

Game theory wise, here are some strategic dos and don‘ts around running it twice:

When you should agree to run it twice:

• You are the statistical favorite to win the hand
• Your opponent has reasonable equity to catch up

When you should refuse to run it twice:

• You are the statistical underdog in the hand
• Your only hope is to catch the right cards on one board

The key principle: Reduce variance when you‘re the favorite, and maximize your equity when you‘re the underdog.

That said, always be aware of the human element too. Rarely pushing for it when you‘re a dog may look like angle shooting. And some rec players mistakenly think it‘s "unlucky" to run it twice, so tread carefully.

Standard Etiquette and Rules of the Procedure

A few norms to keep in mind around running it twice in poker:

• It‘s standard to ask politely rather than insist
• Both players must agree – don‘t pressure someone into it
• The dealer may need to be informed on the proper procedure
• There‘s no burn card between the two runouts
• It‘s far more common in cash games than tournaments
• Only do it when both players have cards to come, not after all cards are out

Bottom line: running it twice requires mutual respect and agreement between the players involved. And don‘t overuse the option to the point of annoying everyone!

Recreational Players‘ Perceptions

Here‘s an interesting wrinkle to consider:

Many recreational or amateur players mistakenly think it‘s actually unlucky to run it twice. They have a gambling mentality where they just want to "play it out" and see what happens on one board.

So when you propose running it twice, some players interpret that as you being afraid of the action or nervous about losing. Little do they know it‘s +EV!

Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

We‘ve covered a ton of ground here, so let‘s recap the key points:

• Running it twice splits the pot between two runouts to reduce variance
• It does not change overall EV but smoothes out big swings
• Players do it to reduce suckouts and hedge against coolers
• There are good arguments on both sides of whether it‘s good or bad for the game
• You should strategically agree to it when you‘re the favorite and refuse when you‘re the dog
• Recreational players sometimes mistakenly think it‘s unlucky
• It requires mutual agreement and is more prevalent in cash games

While running it twice has no impact on overall equity, it can dramatically change the dynamics and emotions of a poker hand. My hope is this guide has provided you with an in-depth expert perspective on everything it entails.

Let me know if you have any other poker topics you want me to cover in-depth! I‘m always happy to share my insights with fellow poker enthusiasts.