Poker glossary

Odds Against

Odds against are the number of failures for each success. If something has odds of 4 to 1 against, it fails four times for every time it succeeds.

The simple explanation

If a flush draw has 4 to 1 odds against, you miss four times and hit once in five tries, which is 20 percent.

A closer look

Odds against are the usual way to express the chances of a draw. Compare them with the pot odds: if the pot offers better odds than 4 to 1, the call is profitable. The opposite expression is odds for, or odds on.

A practical example

A draw with 4 to 1 odds against needs a pot that pays more than 4 to 1 to call profitably.

Full explanation

Odds against are the number of failures for each success. If something has odds of 4 to 1 against, it fails four times for every time it succeeds.

Odds against are failures per success.

4 to 1 against means a 20 percent chance.

Compare with the pot odds.

The opposite is odds for.

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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