poker school
lesson 12: pot odds and poker odds
Hey guys, welcome to your next lesson. In the previous lesson we covered the essentials in reference to outs and hand odds. We are going to move our focus towards pot odds and poker odds. This is another important lesson towards your success, so let's get started.
Poker is a game of probability with a little bit of luck. Most good poker players will figure out the odds and take them into account when it is time for them to decide whether or not they will continue betting on a particular hand. The theory behind pot odds is to compare what the odds of completing a hand are to the possible earnings a pot has to offer.
If you are concerned that your math skills are not up to snuff there is no need to worry here as calculating the pot odds are not difficult at all. When calculating pot odds, first we need to determine the value of the chips that are currently in the pot. You will need to include any bets your opponents have already placed in the pot, and you should also factor in any additional bets that you think the players who are betting after you will make. Once you have figured that number out you will divide that number by the value of the bet that you are required to call. For example, if there is $6 in the pot and you need to make a $1 bet to call, the pot odds are 1:6. For a $1 bet, you would make $6 if you won. However, the pot odds will need to be reconfigured if one of your opponents happens to come in with a raise after you. If that should happen, you then would proceed to divide the size of the current pot, which would include the bets that are already on the table, by your first bet you made plus the raise that occurred.
The reason for calculating pot odds is so that you can determine whether you should continue drawing towards a hand that you believe will eventually win. Take a look at the chart below as it shows you the odds of completing or improving on your hand on the turn and river, based on the number of outs your hand has. Remember that outs are the number of cards that you have not seen that still remain in the deck that will complete your hand. Also, pot odds are all about probability, and you need to remember that pot odds do not account for the unknown cards that have already been dealt (either the burn cards or your opponents' cards).
The way we determine whether the risk is good enough to bet is we compare the odds of making your hand to the pot odds. Once you have calculated your odds for completing your hand and those odds are higher than what the pot odds represent, then that will tell you that your possible earnings from winning does not justify the odds against making your hand, and therefore you should fold your hand at this point. On the other hand, if your odds of making your hand are lower than what the pot odds are, then your possible earnings from winning does justify the odds, and therefore you should be inclined to raise or bet.
Let's take a look at this example. There is $100 in the pot, and you need to bet $10 to call, which gives you pot odds of 10:100 (1:10). So if you have a four card diamond flush draw from the flop, and you need one more diamond to complete your hand, we know from our previous lesson that we have nine possible outs, or there are nine possible diamonds still remaining in the deck. We have figured out that the odds of making a hand with nine outs is 1:4. So in this particular scenario, you should be inclined to raise or bet because the pot is giving you good odds.
So, remember you want to compare the odds of making your hand to the pot odds. Here is a second example. There is $100 in the pot, and you need $10 to call, which gives us pot odds of 1:10. You are holding 5
6
; the dealer burns a card and turns over the flop. The flop comes with the 89
J, which gives you an inside straight draw. We know that there are four possible outs for you to hit your hand (because you need a seven and there are four sevens remaining in the deck). With having four outs that gives you 1:11 odds of you making your hand. So your hand odds are greater than the pot odds of 1:10. These odds should tell you that a fold would be a smart move.
odds of completing a hand on the turn or river
| OUTS | IF YOU HAVE A | AND ARE DRAWING TO | ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three of a kind or inside straight draw | Four of a kind or a straight flush | 1:46 |
| 2 | Pair, or an open ended straight draw | Three of a kind or a straight flush | 1:23 |
| 3 | Over card (1 high hole card) | Pair | 1:15 |
| 4 | Two pair or an inside straight draw | Full House or a straight | 1:11 |
| 5 | Pair | Two pair or three of a kind | 1:8 |
| 6 | Over cards (2 high hole cards) | Pair | 1:7 |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Full House or four of a kind | 1:6 |
| 8 | Open-ended straight draw | Straight | 1:5 |
| 10 | Flush Draw | Flush | 1:4 |
| 12 | Inside straight flush draw | Straight flush, flush, or straight | 1:3 |
| 15 | Open-ended straight flush draw | Straight flush, flush, or straight | 1:2 |
Understanding how to figure your odds in texas hold'em is going to be one of the most important points for you to comprehend in order to become a solid poker player. If this section was a little difficult for you to grasp don't worry as you are not the only one who finds pot odds a little difficult to understand at first. Remember, these lessons will always be here so if you need help later on, don't be afraid to come on back and check it out as many times as you need to. We hope this has helped you out - keep us informed on how your progress is coming. Check out our poker forum and drop a few lines on how you're making out. We'll see y'all next time.
good luck and enjoy your experiences at the poker tables
