Pot Odds Live

So I just played a round of poker with some buddies of mine and I found myself trying to count odds with chips instead of the online site doing it for me. Any tips on calculating pot odds live? How can I count what's in the pot fast enough to figure out my odds? Thanks.

Well we aren't adding up every single chip, that'd make the math more difficult.
It's more of an estimation, and it's actually easier than you might think.


Pre Flop:

Preflop is pretty easy so I won't dive in too deep.

Blinds are 50/100
2 people limp for 100
just add it up ~ 3 big blinds are in the pot, plus half of 1.
3.5:1 on a call.


Post flop:

People generally size their bets relative to the pot size.

So when villain bets roughly 1/2 the pot, assuming no one calls before you, you're getting 3:1 pot odds.

To get the pot odds I took the bet size and just added it.

Villain bet 1/2 pot:
1+2 = 3.
3:1 pot odds.

Villain bets the full pot 1/1:
1+1 =2
2:1 pot odds.

Villain bets a mere 1/4 pot:
1+4=5
5:1 pot odds.



This only works when the fraction starts with a 1, so if villain bets 3/4 or 2/3 pot then this won't work, but I think it's a good starting point.

It's also important to note if anyone calls before you, then you will have to make an adjustment.
Villain bets 1/2 pot, well we already know that gives us 3:1.
But someone calls before you.
That would then change your pot odds to 4:1, thus lowering the amount of equity needed to continue.

Wow foldemz, this is exactly what I needed thanks! And how exactly would I convert those numbers to a call percentage? I work better with percentage than with ratios.

Lespaul_Lover said:

Wow foldemz, this is exactly what I needed thanks! And how exactly would I convert those numbers to a call percentage? I work better with percentage than with ratios.

Click to expand...

No problem, man. Glad to help!

Once you have the pot odds ratio you add the numbers up kinda like you did with the bet size. Remember when villain bet 1/2 pot and we added 1+2 to get 3:1?

Now we do pretty much the same thing. We take our ratio of 3:1 and add it up. 3+1 = 4. Then we divide 100 by that number and that's the equity needed to continue.

Calculating the equity needed once you have pot odds:

3:1
3+1 =4
100/4 =25%

4:1
4+1=5
100/5 =20%


Just calculate the percentages from 1:1 to 10:1 at home and memorize them,
they never change.

You'll probably notice that a lot of times you aren't getting the right pot odds to call, but it's still profitable once we take implied odds into consideration.

Lespaul_Lover said:

Wow foldemz, this is exactly what I needed thanks! And how exactly would I convert those numbers to a call percentage? I work better with percentage than with ratios.

Click to expand...

Call Percentage is

Call/(Call + Total Pot)

so if pot is 100 and villain bets 50
Call = 50 and total pot is 150 so
50/(50 +150)
50/200
1/4 or 25%

and as already mentioned easy way is memorise a chart or even just the most common ones

rhombus said:

Call Percentage is

Call/(Call + Total Pot)

so if pot is 100 and villain bets 50
Call = 50 and total pot is 150 so
50/(50 +150)
50/200
1/4 or 25%

and as already mentioned easy way is memorise a chart or even just the most common ones

Click to expand...

How long does it take from learning to playing poker professional what do I need to know. I would appreciate any help you could bare. Busting the bankroll more than 5 times is pretty much a failure.

Nice Chart Foldemz. Great starting point. Get that down and practice calculating at the table will certainly help. Calculate the hands that you are not in as well for additional practice and insight into what your opponents are doing.

gamingtouch said:

How long does it take from learning to playing poker professional what do I need to know. I would appreciate any help you could bare. Busting the bankroll more than 5 times is pretty much a failure.

Click to expand...

according to Doyle Brunson
takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master

no shortcuts just a lot of studying and practice an more study and more practice and ................