Pot Odds Made Simple

BY: HoldemPokerPlyr

What are Pot Odds?
Pot odds is the ratio of the money in the pot compared to the amount of money to call a person's bet. It's a mathematical way to help you figure out to call a bet or not.

Why use Pot Odds?
People usually use pot odds when they are debating whether to call a bet or not. They usually don't use pot odds with every bet they want to make or call. If the pot odds are greater,you should make the call.

To figure out the Pot Odds it's very simple:

For Example:
The pot contains: $36
The bet to call is: $6

Pot to Bet:
36/6 which is simplified to 6/1 or 6 to 1.

Ok so now what?

Odds of Your Hand
We compare the Pot Odds to the odds against your hand. To figure out the odds of your hand you do this.

You have two cards and there are three cards on the board.

Work:
2+3=5
52-5=47

47 not seen cards

Out of those 47 cards you have your outs and the cards that you don't need. So for example if you have 12 outs that leaves with 35 cards you don't need.

So that makes the ratio of cards you don't need to need 35 to 12 or around 3 to 1. You would have to put 35/12 into its simplest form and its around 3/1 not exact (the exact figure is 2.916 repeating). Round that off to 3 to 1. The pot would have to be at least 3 times the size of the bet.

You would not count the cards that the people folded because you don't know what they had. The two cards you hold and the cards that are out on the community board are the only seen cards that you know. That is unless someone shows their cards to you.

Comparing
Now how do I combined these odds to help me? If the pot odds are higher than the odds against making your hand, you should call the bet.

Thank You
-HoldemPokerPlyr

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