sharkyo01
Legend
Silver Level
To be honest it practice... Have you read poker odds for Dummies under Strategy Articles? That gives you basics... The just get a pack of cards deal a few hands out and work out the maths for each hard.
Just time and patience. Like most things with poker
Just time and patience. Like most things with poker
RoyalFish
Rock Star
Silver Level
You can do it in your head (or on paper, more likely). Poker Stove is just faster. Remember, you're computing vs a range of hands, not one, so while you can work out the probability of your hand beating another specific hand, you have to do that, oh, 10-40 times (or more) depending on your opponent, then average the results. It's a LOT of work.
RF
D
davewalley
Rising Star
Silver Level
poker math is statistics and probability- and that, my friend is not calculus or infinite math, it's quite simple and you can learn it very easily. It's never to late to start, just take a high school book and start practicing. i think they're still studying that. All those programs might be good and might not but you need to learn to use your head 2...
unkownn
Rising Star
Silver Level
So if I hold Js10s and I am playing 6 handed 5nl.
I am UTG and choose to raise to 4xBB = 0.16 total.
everyone folds to the button who calls and the SB and BB fold.
The flop is Kd Qs 2c
I lead out for 3/4 the pot (.12) and my enemy shoves all in.
My enemy has $4 behind and I have $3.
wat wud u do? just to the last guy who posted
Worak
Legend
Bronze Level
fold preflop+if not check flop and fold to his bet.
You're 33:66 behind against an opponent who holds either Kx or Qx.
You can work it out by hand or remember the odds from you last pokerstove visit
.
SavagePenguin
Put the win in penguin
Bronze Level
You have 8 outs, the four Aces and the four nines.
On the flop we multiply those outs by 4 (and add 1% to be closer). So you are 33% to hit one of those outs by the river.
So you win about 1 out of 3 times. 1 win for every 2 losses.
Now we compare what it costs to call with how much there is to win in the pot:
If the current pot is twice as big as what you have to put in, you are about even. (Your call is 33% of the current pot size)
If the current pot is more than 2x what you need to put in to call, you are making a call with a positive long-term earning. (Your call is more than 33% of the current pot size)
If the current pot is less than 2x what you need to put in to call, you are making a call with a negative long-term earning. (Your call is less than 33% of the current pot size)
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Likewise, let's say you have Js10s on a Ks Qs 2c flop.
Now you have 9 spades, 3 non-spade Aces, and 3 non-spade 9's for a total of 15 outs.
15 X 4 = 60
You are close to 60% to win, even though you don't even have a pair. Ship it!
PoKeRFoRNiA
Legend
Bronze Level
Some people consider their overcards as outs. Do you think that's proper? For example, let's say flop is TsJs2c and you have Qs Ks. You have 15 outs to complete your hand. But do you consider Kings and Queens as your outs too? Some people consider them outs. Some people don't. I preferably don't like to consider them outs because they don't guarantee me victory but I consider them partial outs to judge the call.
cardplayer52
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
You might only count 3 or 4 of the 6 outs that pair your over cards. And maybe take away the 2 of spades as well as that makes 4 of a kind and fullhouses possible. So with 2 overs and a OPSFD i'd count about 17 outs. But that may change pending on how good a read I have on the villian.
unkownn
Rising Star
Silver Level
PoKeRFoRNiA
Legend
Bronze Level
But you have no way of knowing if your overcards guarantee you a victory. If your opponent flopped two pairs, a set, then pairing your overcards isn't enough. When you do not know what your opponent has, your "outs" are cards that complete your hand or gives you a good chance of winning. But I still take overcards into consideration and consider them partial outs.
Stu_Ungar
Legend
Silver Level
1. Fold preflop, this is not agood hand to play UTG.
2. Fold.... I dont care how bad your maths is, the pot is about $3.5 and its going to cost about $2.75 to call You are not getting sufficent odds to call with only an 8 out draw.
M
mimi
Rock Star
Silver Level
Phil Gordon's Little Green Book has some easy methods for calculating odds in the later chapters. Just a suggestion. The whole book is a fairly easy read, but the math part really breaks it down, although it may take a couple of reads to get that part.
aseablom
Enthusiast
Silver Level
That book, specifically the later chapters, helped me improve in figuring outs much faster and more efficient.
^^ Must Read ^^
Poker Orifice
Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
This is some good basic info. for ya OP.
One minor addition, when calculating your % chance of winning & when using the rule of 4 & 2, if you have more than 9outs you need to subtract the difference from your outcome (ie. with 15outs, (4 x 15) - (15 - 9) = 60 - 6 = 54%
My suggestion as to 'where do I start'? I found that a good place to start was Grade1, followed by 2 & so on.
For a good place to start with basic poker math, check out Phil Gordon's Little Green Book - - it is well-written/interesting. Phil conveys this stuff to the reader in very easy to understand terms.
On the opposite approach... if you want to be further confused, read Sklansky's stuff.
F
feralmitch
Rising Star
Silver Level
Unkownn, when you get a handle on counting your "outs"; there is a fantastic chart on probabality of making any "Outs" multiple up to 21 on the River, Turn and Both (three columns). I found it on linked on "fourdogs" post in the thread "what two books" here in "learning poker" section. It is "fourdogs" bottom link called "Hold'em Outs Chart". Pure Gold for me, you might want to look at it too. I copied it off, awesome info.
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