How to settle up a home poker game

Settling up is the least fun part of a home game. It comes down to two steps: work out each player’s net result, then match losers to winners in as few payments as possible.

1. Work out each player’s net

Net = what they cashed out − everything they bought in for, including rebuys and top-ups. Across the table, the nets add up to zero. If they don’t, a buy-in or cash-out is missing.

2. Pay out in the fewest transfers

Sort players by net. The biggest loser pays the biggest winner as much as one of them is owed or owes, then repeat until everyone is at zero. That takes at most one fewer payment than there are players.

Playing on PokerNow?

Download the ledger and the calculator does both steps, merges players who rejoined under a second name, and handles games that count in cents.