Poker pott odds

Poker is a mathematical game. It is a game of figures and facts and probability. Knowledge of statistics can take a player through this game successfully and can help a player to choose from the options of betting, calling or folding.

Probability is the main factor in poker. If the player doesn’t know the mathematics of the game well, he is sure to face problems as the calculation gets complex in each phase of the game. He or she has two choices: to either learn mathematics well, or prepare to lose the game constantly.

A player gets pot odds after analyzing the latest size of the pot and the next call. These pot odds are especially important since they are the starting point of the poker odds. At this stage the mathematics of the game for the odds are very simple. It is all about simple division. The number of outs a player has makes the numerator and the number of cards left forms the denominator. And the result is the percentage of chance of the player has of actually making one of the outs.

To explain further, Outs are the chances of winning the game compared to the size of the pot. If the chance of winning is better than the ratio of the pot size, then the player has good pot odds. If the chances are lower then the player has bad pot odds.

There is one important factor in poker that must be taken into consideration while studying pot odds. Consider this situation. A player starts playing and has invested considerably in the pot. Suddenly he learns that his odds are lower, and feels that it is better to fold at this stage. This decision is definitely painful because he is losing money. But what he must remember is that after the investment it is no longer his money. It is the property of the winner and it goes to the winner only. The player has no claim on the money. Whatever claim he has, is only mental. Psychological claim has nothing to do with the rules of the game and it only helps to ruin a player. Rationality is the only saving and dependable factor of the game. Choosing to fold now is a smart decision which is based not only on pot odds but also on the players’ hand.

After the outs and pot odds, it is the more complicated and complex bet odds and implied odds. Here the game gets tougher and tougher, since the player has to predict the reactions of his fellow players. Bet odds try to figure out how many players are going to call a raise. Implied odds mean that the player must understand the reactions of other players for the rest of the game.

At this stage, there is every possibility that the insecure player may depend on anything to win the game. But what he must remember is that poker is a mathematical game and a game of strategy. Mathematics is based on facts and data. It is not intuition or sixth sense or any such thins. The moment the player starts to depend on intuition rather than his calculating power, he is sure to lose the game. In a game of poker, intuition is never a dependable factor, unless it is backed by good pot odds! Ruthless calculation is advised here and not a sentimental and foolish approach.