17 Jan 2025 Intermediate This material is for medium-skilled players bet sizing draw pot odds If you learn how to use pot odds correctly, it will become a powerful weapon in your poker arsenal. Mastering this basic concept can determine whether you become a profitable player in the long run. The goal of this article is to explain how pot odds work and help you integrate them into your game effectively. Reading this material won’t take more than 10 minutes, but it can save you money throughout your entire poker career. Let’s dive in! What Are Pot Odds? Pot odds are a poker concept that helps you decide whether to call a bet (or raise) with a drawing hand by comparing your chances of hitting your draw to the size of the bet relative to the pot. For example, when you have a flush or straight draw, you should determine if calling your opponent's bet is profitable based on the size of the bet and the pot odds. Simple enough, isn't it? Let’s use a common scenario in Texas Hold’em to explore this further. You hold two suited cards (), and the flop brings two more cards of the same suit (), giving you a flush draw. We’ll use this example to explain pot odds throughout the article. How to Calculate Pot Odds There are two main methods to calculate pot odds in poker: Ratio Method Percentage Method Both methods yield the same result, so you can choose the one you find more intuitive. 1. Ratio Method This is the most common way to calculate pot odds, often seen in poker books and forums. Your cards: Flop: Let’s assume it’s just you and one opponent left in the hand. The pot is $80, and your opponent bets $20. What should you do? 1. Calculate Your Equity First, calculate the odds of completing your flush on the turn. To do this, find the ratio of cards in the deck that don’t complete your flush to those that do. 5 cards are known (your 2 hole cards + 3 flop cards). That leaves 47 unknown cards in the deck. 9 of those cards will complete your flush, while 38 won’t. Your odds of hitting your flush are 38:9, or roughly 4:1. 2. Compare to Pot Odds Now calculate the pot odds: The pot is $80, and your opponent bets $20, making the total pot $100. You need to call $20 to win $100. Pot odds = $100:$20, or 5:1. Result: Equity is 4:1 Pot odds are 5:1 Since the pot odds are better than your equity, this is a profitable call. Over time, you’ll win more money than you lose in similar situations. Call when the pot odds are better than your equity. 2. Percentage Method The percentage method can feel simpler, especially if you’re new to pot odds. Your cards: Flop: Your opponent bets $30, and the total pot is now $90. Should you call? 1. Calculate Your Equity To calculate the likelihood of completing your straight with the next card: Count your outs: 4 fives + 4 tens = 8 outs. Multiply your outs by 2 for a quick approximation: 8×2=16%. 2. Compare to Pot Odds You need to call $30 to try to win $90. Add your call to the pot: $90 + $30 = $120. $30 is 25% of $120. Result: Your equity is 16%. The pot odds are 25%. Since the pot odds are worse than your hand’s equity, calling would be unprofitable over time. FAQ: When on the flop, why do we calculate pot odds for just one card instead of both the turn and river? Pot odds compare the current pot size and bet to the odds of improving your hand with the next card. To calculate odds for two cards, you’d also need to estimate your opponent’s future bets on the turn, which is highly uncertain. The exception is when your opponent is all-in. In that case, you can calculate the odds for both remaining streets because no additional bets will follow. Final Thoughts Pot odds might seem intimidating at first, but they’re one of the most fundamental poker concepts. When you base your drawing decisions on pot odds, you’ll make mathematically sound plays, ensuring long-term profitability. In addition to calling decisions, pot odds can guide your own betting strategy. For instance, if you suspect your opponent is on a draw, you should size your bets to deny them the correct pot odds to call profitably. Remember: even if your opponent hits their draw and beats you in a single hand, the math ensures you’ll profit over time, and they’ll lose. Practice using pot odds in your games, and they’ll soon become second nature. You can also calculate pot odds using our free pot odds calculator.
