Poker glossary

Price

The price in poker is the amount that a player needs to call to stay in the hand. It is often used with pot odds, which compare the price with the pot.

The simple explanation

If someone bets 10 into a pot of 30, the price for you is 10. You decide whether the price is right for your hand or draw.

A closer look

Price and odds go together: a good price means that the call is cheap compared with the pot. When you have a draw, check whether the price is lower than the value of your equity. Opponents can set the price with their bet sizes, for example by charging draws with a large bet.

A practical example

The pot is 40, and the bet is 10. The price to call is 10, and you get 5 to 1.

Full explanation

The price in poker is the amount that a player needs to call to stay in the hand. It is often used with pot odds, which compare the price with the pot.

The price is the cost of a call.

It is compared with the pot.

A good price makes draws worth calling.

Bet sizes set the price.

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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