Poker Pot Odds Calculator
What is a poker odds calculator An odds calculator is a handy tool for all poker players to quickly get the right probabilities for any scenario at the table. You can select different hand matchups and get the right odds in a second. The odds of winning are calculated with a precise statistical method to ensure the results are correct. Explanation and Calculating Pot Odds. When first learning the game of poker, it is in the best interest of a player to study and learn as many different basic strategies as possible. To calculate the pot odds, you must compare the money that you may potentially win to the money that is required for making the call. You may win 110$ (70$ in the pot plus 20$ from each opponent) and need 20$ to make the call. Therefore, the pot is offering you 110 to 20, or 5.5 to 1. BOL Calculator offers accurate win poker odds that you can trust. You can change the display format to 'Ratio' in the settings window after you click 'Options' 'Odds Display Format'. Pot odds is simply a ratio of the amount of money in the pot compared with how much money it takes to call.
Using mathematics and probability inpoker is one of the most useful (yet underused!) skills for earning profit over the long run.
We’ve put together a list of top poker tips used by the pros to help you play your best in every hand. Adding these invaluable skills to your arsenal will help to support the decision-making process.
For instance, adding certain calculations to your game will enable you to determine whether making a call, raise or fold in any given situation is the most profitable play in the long run (also referred to as +EV). While there are a few different calculations which can help you to elevate your game, one of the most fundamental is factoring in pot odds.
Take a look at the list of premier poker skills to master, below. We’ll explain exactly what pot odds are, how they work, and how to best incorporate them into your game.
What are poker pot odds?
Pot odds are the immediate odds you are being offered when you call a bet in poker. This is often called the “reward-to-risk” ratio and it calculates how much you stand to win immediately in relation to what you have to risk by calling a bet.
In the case of pot odds, the math is telling the player whether a call, raise or fold is a mathematically sound play, given the risk-to-reward ratio.
Take, for example, a hand in which you have contributed a huge proportion of your stack pre-flop and you are now heads-up. You have a made hand and are convinced that your opponent hasn’t connected. Now, if your opponent was to put in a bet on the river which was a mere fraction of the overall pot, you would call, right? Of course. This is because the “risk-to-reward” ratio is telling you that it makes sense to contribute just a few more chips for the chance to win the whole pot. Let’s dig a little deeper and find out exactly what this calculation looks like.
How to calculate pot odds?
Pot odds = [pot size]:[amount to call] where pot size includes any and all bets on the current street (pre-flop, flop, turn or river) as well as the amount in the middle. The final sum is expressed as a ratio.
Pot odds example
The pot is £400 and there is a £200 bet in front of you. You would follow the steps below to determine your pot odds:
Pot odds = [pot size]:[amount to call]
= [£400 + £200]:[£200]
= £600:£200 = 3:1
Pot odds = 3:1
What do pot odds really mean?
So what do 3:1 pot odds really mean? Well, in a nutshell, it means that you are required to put 25% more money into the pot if you decide to call. This is because the final pot size would be £800 and our call is £200 (800/200 is 25%).
We use pot odds to ensure we only call bets when we are getting good pot odds. While it’s best to use pot odds in conjunction with implied odds (we’ll cover this another day), equity and position, you can still use this calculation to see whether a call is preferable or not. As a rule of thumb, the bigger your pot odds, the better price you have for calling. In the above example, for example, it would be far more attractive to call a bet that gives you odds of 4/1 or 5/1.
Scenario
Let’s do a simple pot odds exercise to help you learn how to quickly determine pot odds ratios and percentages.
Question
Villain bets £50 into a £50 pot and it is your turn to act. What are your pot odds ratio and percentage?
Answer
If you said 2:1 or 33% give yourself a big pat on the back. Here’s how it is calculated:
Pot odds calculation
Pot odds = [pot size]:[amount to call]
Pot size = £50 pot + £50 bet = £100]
= £100:£50 = 2:1
2:1 pot odds ratio
Pot odds % calculation
Pot odds – call size/pot size
Pot size = £50 + £50 + £50 call = £150
= £50 / £150 = 1/3 = 33%
33% pot odds
How to calculate hand percentages
Unlike pot odds, it can be extremely difficult to calculate hand percentages during a fast-moving game. This is often frustrating for poker players when they’re trying to make a quick decision or wondering what went wrong.
Enter, the Grosvenor Casinos Poker Odds Calculator. Using the “Monte Carlo” algorithm, this awesome tool estimates the percentage of making a hand by simulating what could happen in any given scenario. The calculator then runs all the possible outcomes based on what each player has at the time. If you’ve not given it a go, try it out! It could give you just the edge you need, especially with out annual Goliath tournament never being far away.
With all that math and problem solving considered, whether you enjoy playing for fun or to improve your game, Poker is a proven positive exercise for the mind. You won’t believe some of the cognitive benefits of Poker.
And if you’re looking to up your game or are new to Poker, you should definitely check out these top Poker tips delivered by real pro players.
With all this new information, tactics and pro-player tips at your disposal, why not join us for the ultimate test of skill and a straight face at the prestigious GUKPT? Or, if you’re feeling brave, take on Goliath – the UK’s biggest ever live poker tournament.
In the meantime, we’ve got plenty of fantastic live poker games online for you to hit the felt and hone your card skills.
Keep it Fun
We’re here to help you keep it fun – remember to set your deposit limit. Click herefor more details on the safer gambling tools available including reality checks and the ability to take a break from your gaming.
We’ve also made it even easier to find our Safer Gambling tools from the home page of our website and there’s loads of information available at GamCare. You can also call the National Gambling Helpline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on Freephone 0808 8020 133.
Comments
comments
Here's a nice free pot odds calculator tool from ThePokerBank called 'SPOC'. Enjoy.
What is SPOC?
SPOC is a free Simple Pot Odds Calculator program that calculates your pot odds and odds of completing your draw based on the number of outs you have and on the pot and bet sizes.
It also tells you how much more you would need to win after completing your draw to break even if you do not currently have the correct odds to call.
It stays on top of other windows during play and helps you to work out your odds with those tricky drawing hands.
Note 1: As you can see on the bottom line, SPOCv2.5 shows that would need to win a further $22.22 from you opponent later on in the hand to break if you make the call in this spot. This is related to implied odds.
Note 2: In SPOC, the 'Pot $' field includes your opponent's current bet. So in the example above, a opponent has just bet $10 in to an existing $10 pot, making the Pot $ $20 and the Bet $ $10
Why use SPOC?
SPOC is really basic, but then that's the beauty of it. SPOC is not meant for just blindly churning out the odds when you have a drawing hand, it's designed to help you form a better understanding of ratios and all that mathematical stuff to do with drawing hands.
If you want a program that automatically outputs the stats and tells you what to do, you can pay $69.95 for Texas Calculatem. If you want to get to grips with drawing odds and familiarize yourself with the most common ratios and percentages for different situations, try SPOC.
So please, for your own good and the benefit of your game use your head as much as possible. In fact, as soon as you get used to the numbers just leave SPOC behind. It's a great tool for learning - just don't grow to rely on it.
How to use SPOC.
Before you use SPOC, it's best that you familiarize yourself with the pot odds article. Just remember that:
If your pot odds are greater than your chances of hitting your draw. CALL.
The odds charts will also be helpful for figuring out how many outs you have for different drawing hands. But for quick reference:
- Flush draw - 9 outs.
- Straight draw - 8 outs.
- Gutshot straight draw - 4 outs.
- Straight and flush draw - 15 outs.
SPOC features.
How To Calculate Pot Odds
- Calculates pot odds.
- Calculates implied odds (or how much you need to win if you do not have the right pot odds to continue).
Old versions.
SPOCv2.1 - An earlier version of SPOC without the implied odds calculator built in. Handy for those of you that are too optimistic with the amount of money you expect to win after hitting your draw.
Buy Iain a beer.
If SPOC has helped you win a few extra pots and taught you how to make the right calls when on drawing hands, why not send Iain (the developer) a few dollars for a congratulatory beer?
Cheers!
Pot Odds Formula
Go back to the Texas Hold'em software.