I won the main pot, but my opponent won more chips than me?

Hey guys I am new to poker, but this situation has happened to me a few times, I can seem to figure why this is happening..."I won the main pot, but my opponent won more chips than me?"

Hopefully someone can help me answer my question, thanks guys. My Player name is "DRP0UT"

The other players had more chips than you before the hand started. I would assume you had about 500 chips.?

In this case, the side pot is bigger than the main pot.

You can only scoop chips that you can cover which is 500x4=2000.

He had more chips while checking your all in.

The most you can win from each opponent is the amount you have in your stack before the hand. So in this case, I suspect you had a little under 500, and you won that amount from each of the other three players.

The side pot did not involve you because all your chips were in the main pot. It was larger than the main pot because the players who were in it had and bet enough chips to make it larger.

you cant win more chips than there you`ve put in the pot plus every player`s chips in pot which count is less or equal to this you`ve put.

an example

P1 (you) 1000 chips
P2 3000 chips BB 200
P3 6000 chips SB 100

You raise all in 1000
P3 calls 1000
P2 calls 1000

pot is 3000 and you are all.in and not part of what happens to pot from now as you dont have anything to call or raise with.

After the flop P2 raise all-in 2000 and P3 calls 2000
pot is now 7000 split in 3000 (the one you are in) and 4000 wich you are not a part of.

Now you win with the best hand main pot 3000, the sidepot 4000 goes to the best hand of the other two.

http://poker.wikia.com/wiki/Effective_stack

I think you should read this article and you will have no more questions in this topic.

Thanks guys, Now i understand. You guys were really helpful! Yes and I did start with only 500.