Showdown

A "showdown" in poker is the point at which all betting has ended and the remaining players reveal their cards to determine who has the best hand and is therefore the winner of the pot.

What is a Showdown in Poker?

In poker, the "showdown" is the final stage of a hand, where all betting has concluded and at least two players remain. During the showdown, players show their hands, and the player with the best hand according to the poker hand rankings wins the pot.

Understanding the Showdown

The showdown occurs only if there are two or more players left after the final betting round. Players reveal their cards, and the player with the best hand wins or — if two or more players have identical hands — the pot is split equally between them.

The Order of Showdown

In a showdown, the last player to have made a bet or raise is the first one to show their hand.

If no betting occurred on the final round, the player to the left of the dealer button is the first to show. The showdown continues clockwise around the table.

Example of a "Showdown"

For example, on the river of a a game of Texas Hold'em there are four remaining players. The first player to act checks, the second bets, and everyone calls except the first player. At this point, the game is at the showdown. The raiser will have to shows their hand (or fold) and if another player has a higher hand, they must show their hand to claim the pot.

• "He was confident going into the showdown with his full house."
• "She decided to call his bet and take the hand to showdown."
• "The showdown revealed that he had been bluffing with a high card."

Showdown in Poker FAQs