You must employ every tool you can think of to get ahead of your opponents in poker games. One of the best ways to escalate your play is to understand the principles of pot odds. However, many beginners are unfamiliar with the concept. It’s where this guide comes in handy — discover all the facts as you read.

What Are Pot Odds?

You should know that every poker game has a pot size. When one compares it to players’ bets, one gets the concept of “odds.” In the plainest explanation, they describe the ratio of the total pot to a player’s bet size. 

In all poker games, there is a starting size. For instance, assume we play poker at Rooli — the site offers plenty of game variations, so it’s a standard go-to for poker fans. The starting value here can be $10. So, the total pot size will be its addition to the size of our bet. Therefore, if we wager $5, the total value will be $15.

How to Calculate the Ratio in Poker

In the example from the previous section, we have the number of $15. Remember, our wager is $5. So, we will have our odds at 15:5. Since we are dealing with mathematical ratios, we can shake down the values on both sides. A through division by five then gives 3:1. 

We can express the calculation in percentages instead. To do this, we would sum up the two values in the ratio. Here, we have 3 + 1, giving 4. Then, we will divide 100% by 4 to get 25%. Now, we will multiply both sides of the ratio by 25%, thus resulting in 75%:25%. 

Pot vs Implied Ratios: The Difference

As you have seen already, pot ratios involve a simple division. However, implied types differ from them. They tell you how much you ought to win on average for the rest of the hand. 

The implied types can be good or bad, depending on specific factors. For example, playing against amateur opponents with senseless bets increases implied odds.

When to Call, Fold, or Raise

Before deciding, you must calculate your drawing odds. This concept depends on the number of outs you have left.

An “out” describes how many cards in the deck could complete your hand. For instance, we will assume two hearts in hand and another on the board. There are 13 hearts in a card deck. So, our outs will be subtracting 3 from 13, which leaves 10.

There are 52 cards in a deck. Eliminating the two-hole and three community cards will leave 47 in the deck. Hence, our numbers for the drawing will be 47:10. Slimming this value down will give 4.7:1. 

Now, let us bring back our ratio, which was 3:1. So, your decision to call, fold, or raise should follow the conditions:

1. Call if your pot is greater than your drawing number.

2. Fold if it is less than your drawing numbers.

3. Raise only when you have a very strong hand.

In our case, the value of our ratio is greater than that of the drawing. Hence, we have to call!

How Odds Influence Bluffing 

The better the number, the slimmer the chance to pull off a bluff. Decent numbers make it easier for opponents to call your bluff. However, if the numbers do not look good, the effectiveness of bluffs will increase. 

For instance, the odds are favorable if you wager a small amount when the ratio is large. However, larger bets reduce the ratio, thus raising the chances of folding. So, bluffing can be the best choice in the latter case.

Advanced Techniques for Professional Players

Below are strategies to use as an expert poker player:

• Marginal calls: Your opponents will always calculate the ratio in high-stakes poker games. Thus, do the same, but more precisely. This way, you can make marginal calls where the reward barely justifies the risk, but profit exists nonetheless.
• Manipulating odds: When bluffing, swing the percentage to your favor with your bet sizes. Typically, these bets would be about 75% to 100%. This way, opponents will find it harder to call.
• Dynamism: Ratios multiply during high-stakes poker games. Regularly calculate the number to keep up. Make immediate decisions based on the current numbers, not those from earlier rounds.