| Pot Odds |
| At the poker table, there’ll be plenty of occasions when
you’ll be asking yourself what is perhaps the most important
question of all: “Is it worth me staying in this hand?" Using ‘Pot
Odds’ will help you give the right answer more often. |
| What are Pot Odds? |
| Pot Odds is simply the ratio between how much is already in the
pot and the amount you’d have to bet to stay in the hand.
For example: if there’s $30 in the pot, and you’d have
to bet $6 to stay in the hand, the pot odds are 30 to 6, or 5:1. |
| Why do I need to know the Pot Odds? |
| Let’s say your hand is not yet the best hand at the table,
but it could be if the right card came up next. There might be
four cards on the board and you hold four diamonds. The odds of
completing the flush on the river are approximately 5:1 against
you. That means: for you to bet with the pot odds, there should
be at least five times the bet amount already in the pot. So, if
the bet to you is $3, there should be at least $13 in the pot to
make it worth calling. |
| Suppose there’s $27 in the pot and you are trying to decide
if it is worth going on. The odds of landing the diamond and getting
the best hand at the table are, as stated, 5:1. The pot would pay
you 12:1 on your bet. According to the Pot Odds, that makes calling
the bet the right decision to make. Of course, you may not land
your diamond and win the hand, but in the long run, playing this
way will be to your advantage. |
Another situation when knowing the Pot Odds is helpful is using
them after the river, when the final bet has come to you. If the
pot holds $40, and the bet in front of you is $4, you can use Pot
Odds to help you decide what to do. The pot is laying you odds
of 10:1. ($40 against your $4 bet). Even though you may feel that
your opponent has the better hand, ask yourself if you think he
is ten times more likely to have a better hand? If you do, fold.
If not, call the bet and see his cards.
|
