Poker : Split Pots in Texas Hold'em Poker

Dear Mark,

Is there such a thing as a split pot in Texas Hold'em? For example, if the up-cards are 2-3-8 jack and king, I have a king and an ace, with my opponent having the king and queen, do I win the pot with a pair of kings with an ace high? I believe I do but my friends say I don't. Who's right? Robert B.

A split pot is a pot in which two or more players have hands of equal value, and, therefore, split the money in the pot. Texas Hold'em uses exposed communal cards in the center of the table which combined with the two hidden cards in each player's hand are used to form the best poker hand.

As you have phrased the question, you would have won the pot outright with your pair of kings, ace high. But, Robert, card suits also come into play, and you failed to mention the suits of any of the cards in your inquiry. Had the communal cards all been of the same suit, while your king/ace and your opponent's king/queen had been of a different suit, then the pot would be split since you both would share a flush, any five cards of the same suit, with the 2-3-8 jack and king.