Poker glossary

Odds

Odds are the likelihood of an event, often written as a ratio. In poker, they are used to decide whether a call, fold or raise is profitable.

The simple explanation

If something has odds of 3 to 1 against, it happens once in four tries. Odds help you to compare the price of a call with your chance to win.

A closer look

There are several types of odds: pot odds, implied odds, and the odds of making a hand. Converting odds to percentages helps: 4 to 1 is 20 percent. The decisions in poker are based on whether your chance is better than the price. Learn the main numbers by heart.

A practical example

A flush draw with nine outs after the turn is about 4 to 1 against: it hits about one time in five.

Full explanation

Odds are the likelihood of an event, often written as a ratio. In poker, they are used to decide whether a call, fold or raise is profitable.

Odds describe how likely something is.

They are written as ratios.

Compare odds with the price of a call.

4 to 1 is 20 percent.

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.

Explore this topic