Pot Odds in Poker

Pot odds is a term used in poker tournaments to describe the odds that the pot is offering you for calling a particular bet.  

There are poker players who rely heavily on math and therefore always apply the theory of pot odds; there are players who do not understand this theory, and there are players who are more intuitive but understand the theory very loosely. 

If you find math a little bit scary, then do not worry. There are certain scenarios that you can just punch into memory instead of creating complex mathematical equations every hand. 
A good example being the knowledge that you will rarely have the correct pot odds to call on fourth street, hoping to hit your flush draw.

Let’s imagine there is $100 in the pot and you are seated on the button. The only other player in the hand has bet $20 from early position meaning the odds for your call are 5 to 1 (100/20 = 5).

So, why are pot odds important? Using the above example, if you believe that your chances of winning the hand are better than 5 to 1, then you call. If you believe your chances of winning are worse than 5 to 1, you fold.

So, how do you know if your chances are better or worse? This is often the trickiest part of the equation and one that puts off many players, but it does not need to be so difficult. 
If math is not your thing, then just study and memorise charts instead of trying to calculate each decision.

A quick search on the internet will provide you with a plethora of charts that will show you the type of hands you have and the odds of you hitting your hand in Omaha Poker with more streets to come.

Learning these charts and learning to calculate pot odds makes the math quite simple when you get used to it.

More Poker Stuff of Interest:

WSOP 2012 - Ivey Falls Short - Cassidy wins the Gold
Poker Strategy - Hitting the Flop