Pot odds refer to the ratio of the amount of money currently in the pot to the cost of a call that a player has to make. This ratio can help a player evaluate whether it is smart to place a bet based on the cards they need to achieve a winning hand. As you delve into the world of online poker, it is definitely worth familiarizing yourself with pot odds.
To give an example, let’s say you start a hand with a pair of fours. To hit another 4 and make a set on the flop, your odds would be approximately 7.5 to 1. You can calculate this by considering that you need only two other cards (out of 52); you already have two, and the other players also have two cards each.
If the potential payout of your bet is less than 7.5 times the amount you wagered, it is not worth making the bet. In other words, if the “pot odds” are unfavorable, you should not call. For instance, if the pot contains $25 and you need to bet $5 to continue playing, you would have a pot odds ratio of 5 to 1, which is insufficient to justify the call.
Let’s say you decide to make a call despite having a weak hand, and the flop doesn’t help you at all. The cards on the table are J-K-2, and the chances of getting a 4 have decreased since there are fewer cards remaining. However, the game becomes more unpredictable after the flop, and you’re being offered approximately 10 to 1 on your investment to make a call, even though your hand odds are only about 9 to 1.