Calculating Pot Odds in No Limit Hold'em

Pot-Odds are one of the foundations of good no-limit Texas Holdem play. While understanding basic pot-odds concepts will not guarantee profitable play – not understanding these will ensure that you lose over time. This article explains pot-odds and some of the important related concepts and shows you how to ensure that your no-limit Texas Holdem has a sound mathematical basis.

We start by defining pot-odds and giving some examples of how to calculate them. Next some basic examples of using pot-odds are given involving ‘drawing hands’. Finally we look at some situations in which the odds being offered are not quite what they seem.

In simple terms Pot-Odds are the price, in terms of betting odds, that you need to pay to call a raise from an opponent. Since there will be money in the pot already you divide the total by the amount that you need to call. For example, if the pot were $50 and an opponent bet $50 you would need to call $50 to win a pot of $100 – in odds-terms you are getting exactly 2-to-1.

Pot-odds can be calculated at any point in the hand. If you were in the big-blind and a raise and 3 calls came before you acted the pot may be $25, to play your hand you need to call $5 more – your pot-odds are thus 5-to-1.

The main use of pot odds is to decide whether you can profitably see a turn or river card when you have a drawing hand – for example to a flush or a straight. In these examples you decide whether your call is profitable by assessing both your pot-odds and your chances of improving to the best hand.

Your chances of improving are dictated by the number of unseen cards that will make your hand. If you have 2 spades in your hand and there are 2 on the flop then out of 47 unseen cards there are 9 spades remaining that will make your flush. 9/47 = approx 4.2/1, so if the pot-odds being offered are higher than this you will show a profit over time by calling.

In no-limit Holdem you can bet an amount that will ensure your opponent does not have the correct pot-odds to call. If you suspected your opponent has a flush draw and you have a pair then betting an amount that offered your opponent 2/1 or 3/1 odds would make calling a mistake. If your opponent calls then that is fine – taking bets against the odds will lose that opponent money over time.

Sometimes pot-odds are different to what they seem. One of the main reasons is that there are players still to act, any of whom might raise. To go back to the flush draw example, if you are getting 6/1 you appear to have the right odds to call. However with 1 or 2 aggressive opponents still to act you may have to call another (and bigger) bet which ruins your drawing odds.

The opposite is also true. Calling a bet with slightly bad pot-odds may be profitable if you expect to win more money if you make your hand. Back to the flush – if you think your opponent will call a big bet when you do hit your spade then you may be able to take 3-to-1 odds (for example) on the initial call. The extra bets are known as your ‘implied odds’. Beginners should be aware that different opponents and situations change these odds considerably and should be careful using this concept until they gain experience at the tables.

To summarize, pot-odds are the money odds you are taking (or giving) to call a bet based on the total size of the pot. They are most useful in conjunction with ‘outs’ in determining whether you can profitably call with a drawing hand. Opponents what are still to act, and the potential to win more bets if you make your hand influence pot-odds calculations in no-limit Holdem poker.

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Pot odds are a huge part of online poker, and if you know your pot odds, you'll have a great chance of winning. To play online poker, view our best site for no limit Hold'em page and find out the best NLH site for you.

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