chaalwise

Reference / Poker

Pot odds

Odds and maths, beginner

Also called Odds to call.

The price of a call compared with what is in the pot, which tells you how often you need to win to make the call worth it.

If the pot holds 30 points and calling costs 10, you put in 10 to win 40 in total, so you need to win more than a quarter of the time. Compare that with your chance from your outs: if your chance is higher, the call pays over time.

New to poker? Play your first hands, with a coach at every decision. Practice points only.

Try it yourself

The pot holds 12 points and a call costs 4. How often must you win for the call to pay?

2 questions, a minute or two. Nothing to finish first.

Learn and practise it

Related

  • OutsThe unseen cards that would improve your hand to the one you want.
  • Expected valueWhat a decision is worth on average, weighing each outcome by how likely it is.
  • Sunk costWhat you have already spent is gone. Decide on what happens next, not on what you put in.