Is there a shortcut to figuring out side pots

[jacatone]

Is there a quick way to figure out side pots if you've got different amounts? I always have to painstakingly start with the lowest and work my way up through each player. Thanks.

[Felting]

if your using chips start by stacking the shortest stack in stacks of 20 then create matching stacks out of each of the other stacks. Make sure to do this in front of each players cards so you don't mix stacks. Then repeat with each smallest stacks till you've created all your side pots.

[jacatone]

Don't quite understand stacks of 20?

[Felting]

Stacks of 20 poker chips

[BeerWench13]

Even stacks of the same colors for each player in each pot. Put them in front of the player as you divide them.

[rdlucas]

The other thing to be concerned about is what players are involved in which pots (main, side, tertiary, etc.).

A couple nice 'hooks' to use are:

(1) place the pot in-front of the player that is all-in for that pot; or

(2) stack a requisite amount of chips at the front of the pot to 'mark' it for the player that is all-in for that pot (Example: the five (5) seat is all-in for the 1st side pot, therefore to 'mark' it, the dealer count simple place a $5 chip at the front of the pot or stack five (5) one dollar chips are the front. Whatever works for you.

[lwestatbus]

This is a timely post. While I don't find myself dealing and faced with this problem I'm still amazed at how efficiently the dealers are able to do this, even with two side pots. I'm with jacatone in that I've got to just brute force through it but I know that pro dealers have some other approach.

Of course it takes me about 30 seconds to count my blackjack cards as well. Maybe it is just old age creeping up on me.