Poker Tips: Learn to Calculate and Use Pot Odds

When you watch poker on TV, you hear the term pot odds thrown around all the time. What in the world does it really mean? Well, hopefully, after you read this column you'll not only know what pot odds are, but you'll also understand how to quickly calculate pot odds and apply them to your game.

A simple generic definition of the term pot odds would be the odds the pot is laying you in comparison to the bet you are facing. In other words, if there is $500 in the pot and your opponent has bet $100, your pot odds would be 6 to 1. Why 6 to 1?

Well, since there is already $500 in the pot and your opponent has bet an additional $100, that totals $600. Since you need to call $100 to stay in the pot, your odds are 6 to 1. So how exactly do you apply this basic knowledge to a poker hand? Here's how to figure out your pot odds, compare them to your actual odds, and then assist you in making an informed decision as to whether or not you should continue playing the hand. This is the easy part.

You count what's already in the pot and add it to the amount of the bet you are facing. You then compare that sum to the amount your opponent has bet. So again, if there was, for example, $200 in the pot and your opponent bets $20, your pot odds would be 11 to 1 ($220/$20= 11 to 1).

Okay, so now that you know what your pot odds are, it's time to figure out if you are getting the right price to continue playing the hand.

June 18, 2006
Posted By Nancy Lenz
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!

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