The Multiway Difference
A multiway pot involves three or more players seeing the flop. These situations require fundamentally different strategies than heads-up pots because the math changes dramatically when facing multiple opponents.
The key insight: in heads-up pots, you often only need to fold out one player. In multiway pots, a bluff must get through multiple opponents, making it far less profitable.
Why Multiway Pots Are Different
- Reduced fold equity: More players means someone is more likely to have connected with the board
- Stronger ranges needed: What wins heads-up often loses multiway
- Bluffing becomes expensive: You need all opponents to fold
- Pot odds improve: Better prices to draw with speculative hands
Hand Selection Adjustments
Certain hands gain or lose value in multiway situations:
| Hand Type | Multiway Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket pairs | High | Set mining becomes very profitable |
| Suited connectors | High | Can make well-disguised monsters |
| Big aces (AK, AQ) | Lower | Often need to hit to win, domination less valuable |
| Broadway hands | Medium | Can make strong top pairs, but be careful |
| Suited gappers | Medium | Better implied odds, but draws often get beat |
In multiway pots, play for stacks with nutted hands and be willing to let go of one-pair hands when facing significant action. Top pair is often not enough against multiple opponents.
Betting in Multiway Pots
When to bet:
- You have a very strong hand (two pair or better)
- You're on a draw-heavy board and want to charge draws
- You have the effective nuts on a dry board
When to check:
- You have a medium-strength hand (one pair)
- The board favors the callers' ranges
- You're out of position against multiple players
- You'd have to fold to a raise
Bluffing Multiway
Bluffing should be rare in multiway pots. Consider:
- If you bet and need 2 players to fold, each folding 70% means only 49% success rate
- With 3 players, 70% x 70% x 70% = only 34% success rate
- Bluffing is usually only profitable on very scary boards
- Save bluffs for when checked to on the river with clear scare cards
Positie in Multiway Pots
Positie becomes even more important multiway:
- In position: Can control pot size, see all actions first
- Out of position: Often must check-fold medium hands
- Middle position: Sandwiched and vulnerable to squeezes
Set Mining and Drawing
Multiway pots are where speculative hands shine:
- Set mining: Need about 15:1 implied odds; easy to achieve multiway
- Suited connectors: When you hit, you can win huge pots
- Flush draws: Great pot odds, but be careful of bigger flushes
- Open-enders: Strong drawing hands multiway
Common Multiway Mistakes
- Overvaluing top pair: One pair is often no good
- Bluffen tegen meerdere spelers: Wiskundig verliezend
- Not value betting strong hands enough: Build the pot with monsters
- Playing too many hands: Tighten up when many players see flops