Ok, so you've called in the first round of betting with a strong
starting hand. If you've flopped a great hand, obviously you will
continue playing as the
situation warrants. If you've flopped a hand that can be easily
beaten, or nothing at all, you fold. But what if you've flopped a
hand that could become a great hand, if the cards fell right? Poker
is a game of probability. A good poker player will take the odds
into account when deciding whether to continue betting on a certain
hand. The concept of pot odds is used to compare the odds of
completing a hand to the potential payoff.
Calculating pot odds is simple. First, determine the value of the
chips currently in the pot. Include any bets that other players have
already placed on the table, and factor in any additional bets you
think the players after you will make (these are called implied
odds). Divide that by the value of the bet you need 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. The pot odds will need to be recalculated if another player
raises after you. In that case, divide the size of the current pot
by your first bet plus the raise.
You calculate the pot odds to determine whether to continue
drawing towards a hand that you believe will win. The chart below
shows the odds of completing or improving a hand on the turn and
river cards, based on the number of outs your hand has. Outs
are the number of cards left in the deck that will complete your
hand. For example, if you've flopped a four card spade flush draw,
and need one more spade to make your hand, then you have nine outs,
or nine spades left in the deck. Or, if you're holding Ace-King on
the turn, and you figure that either an Ace or a King will give you
the winning hand, then you have six outs (three Aces and three
Kings).
Compare the odds of making your hand to the pot odds. If the odds
of making your hand are higher than the pot odds, then the potential
payoff from winning doesn't justify the odds against making your
hand, and you should fold. For example, if there is $8 in the pot,
and you need $1 to call, then the pot odds are 1:8. You are holding
5c, 6s and the flop is 8c, 9d, Js, an inside straight draw. There
are four outs for your hand (four 7's in the deck). The odds of
making a hand with four outs is 1:11, greater than the pot odds of
1:8. In this case, you should fold. Another example: There is $8 in
the pot, and you need to bet $1 to call, giving you pot odds of 1:8.
You have a four card flush draw, giving you nine outs. The odds of
making a hand with nine outs is 1:4. In this case, the pot is giving
you good odds, and it is appropriate to call or raise.
To use the chart below, find the number of outs you have on the
left. The center columns are a guideline as to the number of outs a
particular drawing hand has. The right column represents the odds of
making your hand on the next card (the turn or river). Use this
column to determine your pot odds. The item listed in bold
are the most common instances in which you'll need to calculate pot
odds.
