Pot odds is one of
most neglected aspects of Texas Holdem poker, especially by beginner and intermediate player. Some poker beginners have heard term and a few even have a basic concept of what pot odds are, but very few of these players know how to put them to good use in a poker game.However knowing how to calculate and use pot odds is one of crucial weapons that serious poker players have in their armory, one that most definitely separates them from amateur.
Poker pot odds are often associated with complex mathematical calculations and less serious player can feel overwhelmed at prospect of tackling such a subject, but don’t fret, do you really think that to be a serious poker player you need to be a genius at mathematics? Do you think all poker pros are?
Well of course answer is that they are most definitely not all geniuses, but what they do have is a method of calculating odds quickly and easily to see if they are in their favor in any given situation. So let’s look at a simple, basic way of calculating odds, remember it needs to be quick and easy so that it can be worked out quickly and accurately in heat and pressure of a poker game.
Poker pot odds can be broken down to this simple one liner:
“If odds of you getting card you need to make your hand are less than pot odds, you should bet.”
There are two sides to this equation which I will try and explain, “odds of you getting card you need” and “pot odds.” Firstly “odds of you getting card you need”, this one is fairly easy to understand. It’s best explained using example of a flush or straight draw, so we’ll use a straight draw to illustrate it.
