Poker: Pot Odds

What are Pot Odds and what should you know about them? Well, Pot Odds is the ratio of what is already in the pot to the amount you would have to bet to stay in the hand. So, if there are $36 in the pot, and you would need to bet $6 to stay in the hand, the pot odds are 36 to 6, or 6 to 1.

Why would you need to know this?

One example of using pot odds is when your hand is not yet the best hand at the table, but it could be if the right card comes up next. For instance, with four cards on the board you hold four clubs. The odds of completing the flush on the river are roughly 5 to 1 against you. That means for you to bet there should be at least five times the bet amount in the pot. If the bet to you is $2, then there should be at least $10 in the pot to make it worth calling.

Suppose there were $24 in the pot when you were making that decision. The odds of landing that club and getting the best hand at the table were 5 to 1. The pot would pay you 12 to 1 on your bet. That makes calling the bet the right decision to make. You may not land your club and win the hand, but over the long run playing this way will be to your advantage.

Another instance of using pot odds is after the river, when the final bet comes to you. If the pot holds $40, and the bet in front of you is $4, you can use pot odds to decide what to do. The pot is laying you Ten to One odds. ($40 against your $4 bet). Even though you feel your opponent may have the better hand, do you think he is ten times more likely to have a better hand? If so, fold. If not, call the bet and see his cards.

There are plenty of times at the poker table when you will be asking yourself, "Is it worth staying in this hand?". Being able to use pot odds will help you answer that question correctly more often.

Written and Contributed By Robert Marinelli
Copyright ©2004 - 2005.

thanks for that
a little complicated and i dont think, especially in online games,
that ill be able to use it ( not enough time for my feeble brain )
but at least i understand pot odds now

very well said nick i couldnt of explained it better my self

I wonder if it is critical to know exact pot odds in no-limit. IMHO as long as you have a general understanding of the pot size and the bet to call in no-limit you should be fine. I think the number of outs you think you have is much more critical to know in online no-limit where time is a serious factor. I would agree that in limit you better know exact pot-odds so that you know if you will be getting value for your bet. Or better yet when its worth chasing those inside straights and sets.

Thanks for the post. I am glad to see someone put all of this out to teach some of these newbies like me.

I find it difficult to call a large bet with a flush draw, four of the same suit after the flop, but sometimes you just have to go with your hunch.

It's not that hard once you learn a few tricks and you don't need to be exact. For instance, if you multiply your "outs" by 2 with 1 card to come or 4 with 2 cards to come, you get a rough appoximation of your chance of hitting your draw. If your looking for a card to fill a flush you have 9 outs time 4 = about 36% or a little worse than 2:1 with 2 cards to come. It's about 5:1 on 4th street and 6:1 on the river.

It never necessary to know exact pot odds and few players do. Chris Furgesson is one. Mostly it comes from experience. If you have a good feel for the odds your better able to st the table for callers behind you. Most proffessionals break the pot into halves or thirds to set the pot odds. But if your too consistant the best players will get a read on you.

I think it is nice to kno the pott odds.. maybe not critical in some cases. but nice because it always helps to kno who has better odd of winning b4 going all in preflop. But in my opinion the poker sites are so much diff from real poker its crazy. the odds are not true on some of these sites. but i also find it hard to call a huge bet with a sttr8 draw or something to that effect why not wait untill u have the straight

One of my first lessons,cant begin to play without the odds.

This is an excellent article that breaks down pot odds. But you failed to mention IMPLIED POT ODDS. Which can turn the whole thing around!

Ya thanks pretty good thanks that should be helpfull

Good info and its appreciated but a stated earlier I dont know is this fully applies in many online games as too many players play their bankroll as opposed to their hands or the game.