Poker glossary

Odds For

Odds for are the number of attempts per success. If the odds for an event are 5 to 1, it happens once in five attempts.

The simple explanation

Odds for tell you how many tries it takes on average to get one success. 5 to 1 for means one success per five tries.

A closer look

Odds for are less common than odds against, but they mean the same: 5 for 1 equals 4 to 1 against. Be careful with the wording: 'to' and 'for' differ by one, since 'for' includes the success in the count. Pot odds are usually stated as 'to'.

A practical example

A draw that hits about once in five tries has odds of 5 for 1, which is 4 to 1 against.

Full explanation

Odds for are the number of attempts per success. If the odds for an event are 5 to 1, it happens once in five attempts.

Odds for are attempts per success.

5 for 1 equals 4 to 1 against.

‘For’ includes the success.

Pot odds use ‘to’.

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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