Poker glossary

Pot Odds

Pot odds are the ratio between the size of the pot and the cost of a call. They tell you how often you must win to make the call profitable.

The simple explanation

If the pot is 30 and you have to call 10, you are getting 3 to 1. You need to win more than 25 percent of the time to profit: 10 divided by 40. Compare this with the chance that your draw will come in.

A closer look

Pot odds are the basis for decisions with draws. To compare, count your outs and estimate your equity: a flush draw with nine outs has about 19 percent on the next card and 35 percent over two cards. If the pot odds require less than your equity, a call is profitable. Implied odds add future bets, and reverse implied odds subtract losses. Pot odds can be given as a ratio or a percentage.

A practical example

The pot is 60 and your opponent bets 20. The pot is now 80, and you must call 20, so you need to win 20 percent of the time.

Full explanation

Pot odds are the ratio between the size of the pot and the cost of a call. They tell you how often you must win to make the call profitable.

Pot odds compare the pot with the cost of a call.

3 to 1 means you need to win 25 percent of the time.

Compare them with the chance of making your draw.

Implied odds add future profits.

Understanding pot odds

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the full hand transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A opens to 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls 4 more chips.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has a flush draw; Player B has a set.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player B bets 6 into 12. The pot is now 18.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Calling costs 6 to contest a final 24-chip pot: 6 / 24 = 25%. Pot odds alone are not a full decision rule; future betting and the opponent’s range also matter.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
The turn does not complete the flush.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player B checks in this illustrative line.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player A checks back and takes the free river card.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 24 chips
The river completes Player A’s ace-high flush.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 24 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 24 chips
Player A checks back in this teaching line. At showdown the flush beats the set; the pot is 24 before collection. This example teaches pot odds, not optimal river play.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)3 of spades (3s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Jack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB King of spades (Ks)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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