Poker Prophet Forums - Pot Odds Article

Pot Odds

What exactly are Pot Odds?

Well, simply put, it is the ratio of the amount that is in the pot vs. the amount you would have to call. So, you guessed it, you use Pot Odds to help decide whether or not you should "chase" and pay for another card to help complete your drawing hand.

And, since you'll often find yourself having to call a bet on a draw, knowing a little about Pot Odds can certainly help your game.

How Can I Use Pot Odds at the Table?

There are three simple steps in using the Pot Odds chart to help determine whether a call is going to be profitable in the long run.

Count the number of "outs" you have to complete your hand
Look up the X:1 value in the chart
Multiply X times the amount of the bet you'd be calling

If the pot is at least as large as the number you get, calling in this situation would be profitable long-term. If it is less, then there isn't enough money already in the pot to make it a profitable call (note the word already, then read the article on Implied Odds later)

Here's a link to a printer-ready version of the Pot Odds Chart, and here's a copy of it for you to look over here:

In order to use the chart, the first task is to count the number of "outs" you have in the situation.

Counting Your Outs

Outs are cards that will complete your hand, and propel it over your opponents hand at the showdown.

For example:
You have Ad, Kd
The Board shows Jd 4d 2h 7s

If another diamond hits, you'll have the nut flush. There are 9 more diamonds that can come up on the river, so you have 9 outs in this situation.

Common Drawing Hands - and their associated number of outs:
3 Outs - One Overcard
4 Outs - Gutshot Straight Draw
4 Outs - Improving 2 pair
6 Outs - Two Overcards
8 Outs - Open-Ended Straight Draw
8 Outs - Double Gutshot Straight Draw
9 Outs - Flush Draw
11 Outs - Overcard with an Open Straigth Draw
14 Outs - Two Overcards with Open Straight Draw
15 Outs - Two Overcards with Flush Draw

Another example:
You hold: Ks Qs
The flop comes Ts, 9d, 4s

Your opponent goes All-In. Any spade will give you a flush, so count 9 outs for the flush draw. A jack will give you the nut flush. Since one Jack is a spade, and we've already counted that as a possible out, there are 3 more Jacks that can give you the nuts. Nine plus three is twelve outs.

Of course, you still have two overcards, and they might provide outs as well. If you believe your opponent might go All-In with top pair or less, you can count the remaining Kings and Queens as outs.

If you believe they would only go All-In with a set, you can discount those overcard outs.

Discounting Outs

Of course, when you land your out, you want to then have the best hand at the table. There are times when you can land your out, and still not be ahead of your opponent.

For example, you are drawing to a straight, but there is also a flush draw on the board. Or, you are drawing to a non-nut flush.

In times like these, it is not unwise to lower the outs total (or "discount" some of your outs) when computing the Pot Odds.

Hidden Outs

Runner/runner draws do happen. How much are they worth, as far as adding outs to your total? I've read that something like a backdoor nut flush draw is worth about 1.5 outs. You may or may not want to factor that in to your outs total.

Which Column to Use on the Chart

If you are paying to see the turn, look up the number underneath the "Turn" column.

If you are paying to see the River card, look up the number underneath the "River" column.

If you, or your opponents are going All-In, and you will be calling one bet to see both the Turn and the River, use the column marked "Turn or River".

While that may seem simple, it is too easy to mistakenly think that you'll call a bet for the turn, and then call one for the river, so it would be ok to use the "Turn or River" column for computing your Pot Odds. That would be a grave mistake.

Once you have:
> The Number of Outs and
> The number from the Chart

you simply multiply the amount of the call by the number in the chart.

Multiplying by numbers like 4.22, or 2.18 isn't something that I do in my head to the second number after the decimal. But, even doing a rough estimate can give often give you enough information to know if you'd be making a terrible call, a questionable call, or a downright solid call.

For Example:
I have a nut flush draw. There is $36 in the pot. I have to call a $6 bet.

The chart says multiply 6 times 4.22. Six time five is $30, and that's still less than the $36 pot I'm looking at. My Pot Odds question has been answered, and there was no need to do any kind of math with decimals.

A lot of situations will be just like that.

Pot Odds Calculator

Here is a link to a website that has a built in Pot Odds Calculator that will do the math for you. Of course, this is only good for online play, or perhaps reviewing some situations that you find yourself in repeatedly.