At the mere mention of this topic, some people simply put their hands over their ears, shut their eyes and bury their necks in the sand. But you shouldn’t do that. Read these pot odds FAQs and you’ll go from clueless to clued up.
Pot odds are really a cornerstone of poker strategy and are helpful to have a handle on, whatever type of player you are. Whether you’re brand new to poker or you’ve been playing for donkeys years, you should understand what they’re about.
This is one of those things that as soon as it clicks, you’ll wonder why you never read pot odds FAQs before. But listen reader, it’s better late than never. So get reading and get informed now!
Pot odds FAQs
What are pot odds?
All pot odds are is how much you have to call versus how much the pot is worth. So even if you don’t think you’re calculating pot odds, you’re probably doing it at some level subconsciously. It’s natural. Pot odds basically are all about if it’s worth your while getting involved (or staying in) any given hand.
How do you express pot odds?
You talk about pot odds in terms of ratios. That is to say, the size of the pot compared to the size of the call. So if you’ve got a 200 chip pot and a 20 chip call, that’s 200:20 or 10:1.
How do pot odds help you decide whether to call or not?
Pot odds help you to decide if you should call or not by working out if the pot odds are higher or lower than your chance of getting dealt the card you need to win the pot.
So for this you’ve got to work out your hand probability and compare it to the pot odds. Of course, with the flop, turn and river, all of these will change. As will the pot odds, with money added to the pot and bets and raises added into the mix.
What are implied pot odds?
Implied pot odds take into account what is likely to happen next. As well as taking into account the current pot, it adds in all the other bets that are likely to be added in. However, you must remember to exclude your own bets from this.
What are reverse implied odds?
Yes, this might look like one of the most complicated pot odds FAQs, but it’s not really so bad. Reverse implied odds is about the minimum amount you’ll win if you have the best hand and the maximum you’ll lose if you don’t.
This is a handy way to keep your betting in perspective, because of course in poker, a range of outcomes are always possible.
Can you use pot odds in tournaments as well as cash games?
Yes, you can. In tournaments and cash games alike, pot odds are very important. And it’s important to keep them in mind whatever game type or format you’re playing too. Texas hold’em, Omaha, Six Plus and even Twister. Pot odds are important whatever kind of poker you’re playing.
Finding somewhere to practice your new calculation skills
Now that you’ve read these pot odds FAQs, it’s time to figure out how to put your new skills into practice. Yes, you could try this out for the first time in your local card room, Las Vegas or even at this year’s WSOP. But perhaps it’s easier to try figure it all out away from prying eyes.
Take your time during an online session to work these things out. Then you can play at a low stakes table and at your own pace, make smart bets based on your pot odds. Once you get more confident, you can try do it while multi-tabling or at higher stakes tables.
Looking for somewhere to test out your skills? Bet365 is a good shout as it has the low pressure low stakes tables, plus the option to level up when you’re ready. And if you’re a new player, you can use this bet365 bonus code for a sweet welcome offer.
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