Poker pot odds, just what are they?
When we are referring to pot odds we are actually talking about
a crucial element in the game of poker. The pot odds are
determined by evaluating the size of the pot and the bet that is
about to be made. Let's take a little example for clarification
purposes: the size of the pot is $20 and a bet of $5 has been
made and now you are about to call it. The pot odds in this case
will be 20/5 that means odds of 4:1. If the call would be done
for $10 instead of $5, then you would get pot odds of 2:1.
Generally, the pot odds are identified by dividing the size of
the pot to the amount of the bet when all bets of the round are
equal.
The size of the pot
You must always be aware of the size of the pot if you are
planning to calculate the pot odds. When playing in a Limit
room, the odds will also depend on the numbers of the bets in
the pot, instead of the actual amount of the pot. For double
bets like some games of hold'em have when on the river you will
count twice, that means two small bets for each double bet. If
the limit is put only on the pot or if you are playing no-limit
hold'em, then the amount of bets is a little harder to calculate
and the resulting pot-odds will be more as a guideline than as
exact facts, but you still have to try and calculate them at all
times.
Using pot odds
In order to use the pot odds, you first have to know them for
your game. After you calculated your pot odds, they must be
evaluated in a direct connection to the value of the cards you
are holding. This includes evaluating the hands of the other
players too, and making a plan or a statistic of the outcome of
your own hand, calculating the chances you can get to have the
best hand in the game. Let's say you are playing hold'em and are
currently on the flop, having a flush draw. Your opponent is
most likely to have at least a high pair. The cards you should
concentrate on are the outs, the nine cards that can give you a
flush once you already can see four of the cards that will be
used in your flush. The chances to get the card you need on the
turn or on the river are of about 35%, or 1:2 for you, so in
order to be sure you are making the right choice, you calls on
the flop should be made only if they are based on 2:1 pot odds.
The implied odds
The term of implied odds asks for a calculation of the pot you
are most likely to win if you do win. The implied odds are
relative and dependent on the evaluation that you provide the
game with. They are the relation between the actual size of the
pot and the expected final size of it. Let's consider one player
bets in a limit game $5 and the pot is $20, so if you call your
implied pot odds would be of 5:1 because you are betting a fifth
of the expected winning. This is where we should tell if your
opponent is either going to call or raise later on the game.
Then the implied odds can get to 6:1 or 8:1 depending on the
future bets that you must predict.
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