Live Pool
Live Pool
Active Prize Pool Live Pool Refers to a prize pool in poker promotions or tournaments that has not yet been triggered or paid out, is still accumulating, and players are eligible to win.
Overview
A Live Pool is primarily used to describe special cumulative jackpots offered by poker rooms or online platforms, such as the Bad Beat Jackpot or High Hand Jackpot. When the jackpot is "live," it means that if specific conditions in the current game are met (e.g., a four-card Straight Flush is beaten, a particular hand type appears, etc.), the jackpot will be paid to eligible players.
Mechanism
- Accumulation: Typically, a small portion (e.g., $0.50) is taken from the pot per hand and added to the live pool, or the platform adds a fixed amount hourly/daily.
- Trigger: The jackpot is only awarded when a player makes a qualifying hand under the promotion's rules (e.g., quad Aces losing to a Straight Flush). Once triggered, the jackpot resets and begins accumulating again.
- Eligibility: Players must be actively involved in the hand (i.e., in the pot) and the hand must meet minimum player count or bet size requirements.
Typical Use Cases
- Bad Beat Jackpot: A player holds a very strong hand (e.g., quads) but loses to an even stronger hand (e.g., a straight flush). All players in that hand share the live pool proportionally.
- High Hand Promotion: The player who makes the highest hand within a specific time period wins part or all of the live pool.
Difference from a Regular Pot
A regular pot is the sum of all bets in the current hand, awarded to the winning player at the end of the hand. In contrast, a live pool is a cumulative jackpot independent of the current hand, paid only under specific long-term conditions, and is typically built up with contributions from players across many hands.