Introduction to Pot Odds in Poker

You cannot play poker successfully if you do not understand pot odds. When people talk about poker math, they often refer to pot odds and how they figure into a given hand or poker situation.

The basic assumptions underlying poker pot odds are fairly simple. Every poker player must know them.

Pot Odds in Poker

If you've played poker before or watched it on television, you've probably seen the percentages on the screen that tell you how likely one player is to win over another. These percentages calculate by determining which of the remaining cards can help the player who is behind improve to win.

For example, if there are 9 cards that the player who is behind can catch to win on the river, he has 9 "outs," which can then be calculated as a ratio or percentage.

If 9 cards help him, then 36 do not. This is because there are 52 cards, minus the four on the board and the two in the player's hand. This 36-to-9 ratio translates into 4-to-1, or a win percentage of 20 percent.

Using Pot Odds with Odds in Poker

What does this mean to the player? If you know you are going to win 20 percent of the time, you want to make sure that your contribution to the pot is less than 20 percent.

In other words, if you are trying to win a $200 pot and you have 4-to-1 odds, you should be willing to call no more than $50. If you put in $50, there will be $250 in the pot of which 20 percent is your $50 contribution. This is your equity in the pot.

If this situation comes up five times, you will lose $50 four times for a loss of $200 and win once for a win of $200, breaking even. If you can put in less than $50, you have a net win. If you put in more than $50, it is a net loss.

How Pot Odds Applies to Your Poker Game

When you face a decision regarding whether to draw at a winning hand, consider the pot odds. If the pot offers you better odds than the odds of hitting, you have a call. If you are ahead, consider ways to manipulate the pot size, so that your opponent is not getting the correct odds to call.

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