|
|
|
|
 |
|
Pot Odds - Poker terms
|
The term pot odds is used by most amateur poker players, usually to justify why they made an outrageous call. However, understanding pot odds is one of the cornerstones for playing poker at a professional standard.
Let us say that after the river card has been dealt your opponent bets $100. The pot already contains $400. If we add his bet to the pot there is $500 there in total. You are faced with the decision of calling that $100 to win the $500. You are, therefore, said to be getting pot odds of 5:1 if you make that call.
When poker pros make a decision as to whether or not they should stay in a hand they frequently rely on pot odds, or even implied pot odds (what the size of the pot may become with additional betting in later rounds) in order to calculate whether there is appropriate betting value in the action they are considering.
In calculating pot odds you also need to work out the odds of making a winning hand, and seeing if those odds correspond to the pot odds you are getting. If you are drawing to the nut flush, and need one more suited card to make your hand, and you have two draws to get that card, then you have a 1 in 3 or odds of 2:1 to get that flush. If the pot odds are greater than 2:1 you should stay in the hand, but if they are less you should fold.
Related Poker Articles And News Items:
> Rock - Poker terms
> Calling Station - Poker terms
> String Bet - Poker terms
> Freeze Out - Poker terms
> Freeroll - Poker terms
> Bad Beat - Poker terms
> Poker Glossary - E to S
> Poker Glossary - A to D
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
