Betting Strategy,
Poker Odds
July 7 2008
If you want to make smart betting decisions you’ve got to learn to use pot odds when deciding to call a bet or fold. Pot odds tell you if calling a bet is the right decision, and if used correctly it should help you play profitable poker over time.
Here’s an example of how pot odds work. In our example you have A-10 suited hearts, and the turn has just been dealt showing the following board:
You believe your opponent made a straight on the turn so your only hope is to catch a heart on the river and make a flush. Your opponent bets $1,000, which makes the pot worth $3,000. Do you call or fold? Let’s use pot odds to find out.
First, take your outs (9) and multiply it by 2 to get your win percentage: 9 x 2 = 18; you will make your flush approximately 18 percent of the time. Now convert your percentage into odds with this formula: (100/percentage) – 1
This would equal (100/18) – 1 = 4.5 or 4.5-to-1
The odds of making your flush are 4.5-to-1.
Now determine the odds from the pot with this formula:
Pot/Bet
In the example, that equals 3,000/1,000= 3 or 3-to-1.
So to break even when betting $1,000 into a $3,000 pot, you must win 1 in 4 hands. In the three hands you lost you would lose $1,000 each, or $3,000 total. In the one hand won, you would win $3,000, thus breaking even.
In our flush example you are only going to win 1 in 5.5 hands, which means you would lose more money than you would win. The pot odds are telling you to fold. If you were to call, then in the long run you would be in the hole because the money you’d lose would be more than the money you’d win.
Learn more about
Poker Odds in the Bodog Poker Guide.
