Pot Odds + Number of Players in the Pot

DreamRun

DreamRun

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I've recently been trying to learn the math of poker and improve my game and one of the factors I'm still trying to figure out is pot odds.
While reading Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River, Barry says that with 4 players in the pot, even if you are getting 5:1 on your money with :2h4: :5h4: you might not even win there 16% of the time due to someone having you trumped in suit or having your 5 and 2 out kicked. How do you factor in the number of players already in the pot into the percentage of times you win the pot?
 
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whoami

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One quick estimate I use is the following:
If there is for example 4 player in the pot preflop a good starting point for estimating the probability of winning is simply 1/4 * 100% = 25%. If you think that your hand is stronger than opponents' hands on average, your chance will be something above 25%. If on the other hand you think that your hand is weaker than opponents' hands, your probability is something under 25%.
I use this method to estimate my probability preflop as I can't calculate my odds as in flop/turn.
 
veltins

veltins

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I do this way .. if there are 2 or 3 Players including me then if it pays 5:1 odd then i ll go for it. if there are 4or 5 Players in the pot , then i Change it drastically in calculations . for exmp for every additionaly Player i add 2 p to previous Odds. so if it s 5:1 odd needed for me to call in a 2 or 3 Player pot, then it ll be either 7:1 odd in 4 Players pot or 9:1 odd in 4 Player pot for me to call ..
 
thetick33

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this came up for me earlier actually had a7 flop aq7 didnt go crazy had five guys in pot so just called a raise turn a queen know i know 5 guys in a pot is odds one has that queen first guy raises again I call other goes all in I folded he had the queen.

That is what I consider for the pot odds I knew I was probably beat cause of too many players even with two pair knowing I might hit the ace 20 percent is not enough to risk entire tourney on that hand would be better times:)

So I think evaluation is very important and sometimes using the odds is best when playing multi people pots. I dont use sooo much if one on one so to speak if get beat is usually im ahead and outdrawn and it happens or have a high pocket have no choice but to call.

Again had pocket sixes same event three guys raised in front of me I threw out. One is going to hit and risk my tourney hard lay down but the odds are soooooooo low sometimes the move is to lay it down for another play:)
 
Arjonius

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I've recently been trying to learn the math of poker and improve my game and one of the factors I'm still trying to figure out is pot odds.
While reading Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River, Barry says that with 4 players in the pot, even if you are getting 5:1 on your money with :2h4: :5h4: you might not even win there 16% of the time due to someone having you trumped in suit or having your 5 and 2 out kicked. How do you factor in the number of players already in the pot into the percentage of times you win the pot?
It seems you may not appreciate that pot odds aren't as simple as your example makes it appear. For instance, you don't seem to be taking into account that there will be further rounds where you'll have to decide whether to put more money / chips into the pot.

If you have something like 5h 2h pre- and there's no one to act after you, it's not the same as still having people behind you who can raise. And even if you can close the action by calling, your actions on subsequent streets won't always be clear. For instance, what if you flop a baby flush draw or some kind of combo like a small pair plus gutshot?

The key point I'm trying to get across isn't the example, but rather that pot odds can involve thinking about more than just your current action.
 
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