Do you sometimes struggle with odds calculations in poker ?
In this article, we will operate under the assumption that readers possess a basic understanding of odds calculations but are searching for methods to expedite and ease the process.
The quicker we determine our odds, the more we can focus on what really matters - making the best decision At times, players can become so consumed by the mathematics that they neglect to think strategically about their current circumstances.
Poker Odds – Quick Recap
In poker, the concept of \"odds\" can refer to two slightly different aspects.
- The price we are getting on a call or bluff .
- The odds of winning or enhancing our hand to the optimal one.
We will discuss both meanings in this article, along with other types of odds analysis like implied odds calculations .
We presume a basic understanding of these calculations. Should you need a refresher, feel free to consult this article titled poker hand odds .
₽7 Tricks for ESY Odd Calculations:
Trick 1 – Percentages vs Ratios
Traditionally, pot odds Odds are typically represented as a ratio . However, our primary aim is to equate pot odds with pot equity , which is represented as a percentage . Thus, we must dedicate some time to convert our pot odds ratio into a percentage to facilitate comparison with our equity.
This is why most professionals opt to calculate their pot odds as a percentage right from the start. This eliminates the need for conversion when we compare our pot odds to our equity. If our pot odds percentage falls short of our pot equity percentage, we can confidently make a profitable call based solely on the pot odds.
It helps to remember this –>
The portion of the total pot we are putting in (including our call) equals our pot odds percentage.
For instance, if our opponent wagers $50 into a $100 pot, our call of $50 translates into investing $50/$200, which equals 25% of the pot. That's our pot odds—25%, quite straightforward.
Trick 2 – Memorisation
One of the most effective ways to enhance our calculation speed is to avoid all unnecessary calculations . Experienced players often suggest that there's little benefit in repeatedly calculating a value that can be quickly memorised .
For example, the table below illustrates our pot odds (as percentages) in response to standard bet amounts.
| Facing Bet Size (%) | Pot Odds (%) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 14.29 |
| 25 | 16.67 |
| 33 | 19.88 |
| 40 | 22.22 |
| 50 | 25.00 |
| 60 | 27.27 |
| 66 | 28.45 |
| 70 | 29.17 |
| 75 | 30.00 |
| 80 | 30.77 |
| 100 | 33.33 |
| 150 | 37.50 |
| 200 | 40.00 |
For example, if our opponent bets $50 into a $100 pot, a seasoned player would usually recognize that we are looking at 25% pot odds without needing to do any calculations. They have committed to memory that a half-pot bet corresponds to 25% pot odds.
Similar memory techniques can apply to -
- The likelihood of hitting on the following turn or by the river with different types of hands .
- The necessary folding frequency for a bluff of a specific size to yield profit.
This approach eliminates a significant portion of the math involved!
Trick 3 – Good Arithmetic
Many people consider that someone is either good at mental math or they are not. They often don’t realize that good mental arithmetic is a skill that can be developed through various methods.
For instance, suppose our opponent bets $47.38 into a $100 pot. What's the pot odds being presented to us?
The total pot size would be $47.38 + $47.38 + $100 = uhhhhhhh…….(time ticks slowly).
For context, the computed answer is $47.38 / $194.76 = 0.2433 or 24.33% pot odds.
It may give a sense of accomplishment to manage complex figures in our mind, yet in this scenario, it's a complete waste of effort. Being adept at mental calculations isn't simply about handling complicated numbers. More useful is the capability to identify what’s important and find ways to streamline mathematical challenges.
$47.38 is nearly $50. A half-pot bet from our opponent grants us 25% pot odds (since we memorized this figure from trick number 2).
That thought process can occur in less than a second. Does it really matter that we're technically slightly off the precise value? Not in the slightest; our estimate of pot equity won’t be exact either. There’s no advantage to knowing our pot odds to multiple decimal places.
Trick 4 – Visualisation
Consider the scenario where our opponent bets $23 into a pot of $72. We might have memorized pot odds for various bet sizes, but it's not immediately clear what percentage this is. bet sizing is.
Visualize those figures as physical objects, such as bars on a graph.
How much larger is the pot-size How does the bar representing our bet compare to the bar representing the pot size? We can hopefully see it’s approximately three times larger, indicating the bet is around 33%. From our memorization, we understand we’re getting around 20% pot odds.
The actual bet size is 36%, but that estimation is close enough, and we avoided doing any arithmetic. The effectiveness of this method may depend on how our brain processes information.
The essential point is that there are ways to conceptualize math problems without directly engaging in calculations. Mathematical prodigies often visualize math as a tangible landscape rather than simply a set of numbers.
However, if this approach doesn’t suit us, Trick 3 can provide a good solution. $23 is roughly $25, and $72 can be approximated to $75. $25/$75 represents a 33% pot-sized bet.
The key is to always round up to manageable numbers before tackling harder figures.
Trick 5 – Implied Odds System
Calculating implied odds presents the most intricate and demanding challenges of all the odds calculations we encounter in poker. By combining our current knowledge with a streamlined approach for assessing implied odds, we should simplify the process significantly. odds problems It's important to remember that, depending on the number of outs available, the pot must increase to a specific multiple of our calling amount . We can gauge an approximate ideal pot size by multiplying the calling amount by the values in the table below.
Notice that hands with 4, 8, or 9 outs are highlighted in bold. These represent the most common types of draws.
| Number of Outs | Implied Odds Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 1 | 50.0 |
| 2 | 25.0 |
| 3 | 17.0 |
| 4 | 13.0 |
| 5 | 10.0 |
| 6 | 8.0 |
| 7 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 6.0 |
| 9 | 6.0 |
| 10 | 5.0 |
| 11 | 5.0 |
| 12 | 4.0 |
| 13 | 4.0 |
| 14 | 4.0 |
| 15 | 3.0 |
Let's take a look at an example of how the system can be applied. gutshots , open-ended straight draws and flush draws have 4, 8 and 9 outs respectively.
There is $100 in the middle on the turn, and our opponent bets $50. Are we receiving the implied odds to call with our flush draw?
Now, some math is unavoidable here; nevertheless, employing our system should make the math feel as effortless as possible.
For hands with 9 outs, we multiply our call amount by 6 (as per the table). This calculation gives us a rough approximation of how large the pot needs to grow to warrant a call based on implied odds.
The pot ideally should reach around $300 on average. Post-call, $200 would be left in the pot, which means we need to convince our opponent to contribute an additional $100 on the river for our turn call to be justifiable.
$50 * 6 = $300
Next, we examine our opponent's remaining stack to determine if making an average of $100 on the next card (if we complete our hand) is a possible outcome.
With $100 in the middle on the turn and our opponent betting $50. Do we have the implied odds to call with our gutshot?
Let’s try with another type of hand.
For hands with 4 outs, referencing our memorized chart means we multiply our calling amount by 13, hence $50 times 13. We can break this down into $50 * 10 equaling $500, then add $50 * 3 for $150, summing up to $650.
Given that the total pot size would be $200 after making our call, we would need to generate an additional $450 in the subsequent streets.
We shouldn’t waste energy on overly precise calculations. The values in our implied odds table have already been rounded for convenience.
Gaining the ability to produce reliable estimates of our pot equity is something that develops with consistent practice. Instead of attempting detailed calculations to determine our pot equity, it's far more effective if we simply recognize different scenarios and have a good instinct for the equity our hand or range is likely to possess.
Trick 6 – Equity Drilling
Certain equity calculation software includes a feature that allows for 'drilling' or 'practicing'. Players can review various scenarios based on one of the following -
By allocating dedicated time to practice making equity estimates, we relieve the pressure of real-time game situations. Rather than the necessity to conduct detailed calculations during a hand, we are much more likely to have a solid understanding of our pot equity instinctively.
- Hand vs Hand equity
- Hand vs Range equity
- Range vs Range equity
Would you be surprised to discover that many professional online players refrain from calculating pot odds themselves? They commonly rely on third-party software that does this for them.
Trick 7 – Software Assistance
Of course, this option is exclusively for online players, as certain online poker environments may view the use of such scripts as unethical.
While it is advisable to learn how to perform odds calculations independently instead of depending on scripts, this easy
would be incomplete without acknowledging this final avenue. poker odds guide We have explored methods to streamline the calculation of poker odds and enhance our mental arithmetic abilities.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Although we may not experience immediate improvement, consistent practice coupled with patience can lead to significant enhancement of our skills!
Timothy \"Ch0r0r0\" Allin is a professional player, mentor, and author. Since starting in 2006, he has built his bankroll from the ground up without making a single deposit. After successfully competing in some of the most challenging tournaments globally, he now shares his experiences and strategies through 888poker magazine.