In poker, the term “run it twice” means to deal a complete set of cards (flop, turn, and river) two times in a row before awarding the pot to one player. This is an option that players can agree to in live or online poker games, and it can help reduce the variance in a hand. The decision to run it twice is up to the players involved, and they should decide based on their goals and the situation at hand.
Players typically choose to run it twice when they are all in and facing another player who is also all in. The idea is to reduce the risk of getting beat by a monster on the board, or losing the entire stack in a bad beat. The process involves dealing two separate boards, with each player receiving half of the pot after the first and second runouts.
Run it twice can also be used to make a big pot more manageable, as it helps mitigate the effects of extreme variance on your expected win rate. This is especially true when playing in a high stakes game, where the risk of a large pot can be devastating to your bankroll.
While there are advantages to running it twice, there are also some disadvantages. One is that it takes more time, which can slow down the hand and lead to longer wait times for other players at the table. Another is that it can make the hand more complex, as players have to keep track of two different outcomes and decide which to choose.
Some players also choose to run it twice because they believe that it makes the hand more exciting. There have been many big hands on High Stakes Poker where the players ran it out a few times, which adds a lot of drama to the hand and keeps the action going until the final result is determined. This can be a great way to build up tension in the hand, and it can also be helpful for making sure that you are getting the best possible outcome in the end.
Players also often choose to run it twice because they feel that it is better etiquette than refusing the offer, which can be seen as rude and aggressive. This is particularly important in live poker, where you can be facing a lot of pressure to call an all-in, and it is possible that other players who are folding in the hand may take offense to your refusal of a run it twice request. In addition, if you refuse to run it twice, you could potentially face a penalty from the poker room for breaking a rule.