Main pot
The main pot is the part of the pot every remaining player has matched in full, which is the only part an all in player can win.
It appears the moment somebody is all in for less than the others. Everything up to their stack goes into the main pot, and every chip beyond it goes into a side pot that only the players with chips left can win.
The pots are decided separately and from the side pot inwards. A player can lose the side pot and still win the main pot, which is why the dealer awards them one at a time rather than pushing everything to one winner.
an example
your cards
board
One opponent was all in for 40 and another called 100. The first 40 from each of the three of you is the main pot, and your pair of aces wins it. The remaining 60 from you and the other caller is a separate pot the short stack has no claim on.
This example is made up. The real one is in your own hand history: find main pot in your own hands and see how often it came up and what it cost you.
related terms
Side pot
A side pot is the separate pot made from bets that an all in player could not match, and only the players who put money ...
All in
A player is all in when they have put their last chip in the pot, which means they cannot bet, raise or fold again in th ...
Showdown
A showdown is the point after the final round of betting where the remaining players turn their cards face up and the be ...
next
Knowing the word is not the same as seeing it.
The full order of play, from the blinds to the showdown.