How To Use Pot Odds In Poker | Poker Quick Plays

SplitSuit shows you everything you need to know about pot odds. Pot odds are the most fundamental element of poker math, so understanding it couldn't be more important. Learn what these ratios mean, how to convert them to usable percentages, and how to compare the percentage to your equity in order to make better plays preflop and postflop.

[triplemania]

If the conversion from risk/reward ratio to percentages is confusing to you, you can skip it. I've never used the ratio and always go right to the percentages by using the "rule of 2 and 4".

The rule of 2 and 4 as I use it:
CALL ALL-IN ON THE FLOP: multiply the number of outs by 4 and add 1.
CALL ALL-IN ON THE TURN: multiply the number of outs by 2 and add 1.

So you add the call to the pot and calculate/guesstimate the percentage of that call. Then calculate card %% by using the rule of 2/4 and compare the two. So the example pot odds from the video,

My call would be: 24. Current pot: 65.50. Total would be: +- 90. (No need to be exact)
24 out of 90 is slightly more than 25%. (since 25 out of 100 would be exactly 25%. Guesstimating will work fine)

Open ender, all-in on turn:
rule of 2/4 with 8 outs on the turn: 8*2 +1 = 17%
That's clearly less than our "slightly more than 25%". So it's a clear fold.

Same call/pot situation with a flush draw on the turn?
rule of 2/4 with 9 outs on the turn: 9*2 +1 = 19%.
Still fold.

Gutshot + flush combo on the turn?
9 + 4 - 1 = 12 outs (one of the gutshot outs is also a flush out, we don't want to count that card twice)
12*2 +1 = 25%
Still fold.

Open ended + flush combo on the turn?
9 + 8 - 2 = 15 outs (two of the straight outs are also flush outs)
15*2 +1 = 31%
Call. It's +EV. But don't be surprised when you lose.

Open ended, all-in on the flop?
8*4 +1 = 33%
Call. It's +EV. But don't be surprised when you lose.

Open ended + flush combo, all-in on the flop?
15*4 +1 = 61%
Call. It's +EV. You even have a good chance of winning the pot ;p

As you can see, it'll hardly ever come down to the exact number like 26.8%. Doing a rough guesstimate like this will work fine in the vast majority of cases.

Btw James, I mean to give an alternative to people who have a hard time converting ratio to percentage, not to criticize your video. I love your videos, they're great!

[canadiankid]

This topic really brings out your enthusiasm

[tinashematambanadzo]

Thank you! Didn't understand a single thing but I'll keep watching more and I'll understand better. So thank you for your channel

[Slashoom]

Just want to say that I just got back from vegas and was up $500 and placed third in a tourney after re-watching some of these videos as a refresher course. Thanks again.

[sebastianrose]

Love the video and I learned some new.But to calculate the pot odds much simpler, I simply divide the whole reward with the risk.
If the full pot is 1500 and you are asked to call 500 it's simply 1500/500 = 3Which gives you the pot odds of 3:1
A quick way of understanding the ratio is simply by switching the two numbers around, so that the "1" is always to the left and keeps unchanged and you just add 1 to the right side.3:1 = 1/4 = 25%2:1 = 1/3 = 33%1:1 = 1/2 = 50%

[akashrathi]

Amazing, playing poker since so many years and now I know pot odds

[motivationDrivess]

best video for pot odds yet. simple and easy to understand

[Iwannabaja]

So when your calculating your pot odds post flop if you are calling on someone who raised you, you dont consider the money you put in the pot right before his raise nor the money you put in the pot preflop as part of your invested odd? That prior money you put in only counts as part of the winnings part of your odd ratio?

[stuzaza]

Love your work mate, great presentation and very valuable insights. I would like to play you heads up one day

[warrenviegas]

Although it's not needed I think a video dealing with odds could be helpful as most people are more used to percentages. After practicing this concept recently, I see why most people use odds as it's easier to calculate in real time.

The math is much easier when you deal with one form of numbers, The challenges is that it's easier to calculate pot odds in terms of Odds, but it's easier to calculate card equity in terms of percentage, based on the four two rule.

[delilh]

Thanks, it took me a while to find an understandable and clear video with this information, you even said stuff I didn't know I need to learn. Thanks

[ThePokerBank]

@momo Pot odds do help you decide if a call is going to be good (profitable in the longrun) or bad (losing in the longrun). You simply compare the pot odds you are getting to your % (or percentage of winning the hand) to see if a call would be good or bad. This is particularly useful when drawing and calling preflop all-ins...but it applies a ton of the time

[slobodanreka]

PokerStars: "I have KK, villain has J2. My odds -- minus 3, 000 per cent."

[templedad]

James...You do a great job with these videos.  Easy to understand and very helpful.  Thanks for posting them.  

[rupeshbasvat]

Thank you So much for your free advise to all poker player its means a lot Thank Thank You so much ❤️ Much Love from India.

[StrongwillGameTheory]

How do you factor the rake? can you do a video on pot odds involving rake?

[lucasduncan]

Great video, mate. concise and made things simple. cheers

[fndTenorio]

@MrStevie57
The probability of a flush draw hits flush in the turn card is 9/45 = 20%, so the odds of NOT doing a flush are 80/20 or 4:1. So for 100 flush draws expect to hit 20 on the turn.

[phfospu]

This channel is amazing. Thank you for not charging us for the info.

[kibspoker]

Thanks a lot. Learned so much - You are Heaven sent