Anyone know an easy way to figure pot odds at a poker table?

Question

Anyone know an easy way to figure pot odds at a poker table?

Answer 1

There's a list of quite a few excellent sources under LEARN to play poker http://pokerpulse.com/news/viewtopic.php...

Answer 2

Download a piece of software called Pokerbility. It's only a 30 days trial but it gets you used to what hands to play and the hand-odds. I also recommend that you use it on http://www.novipoker.com.

Answer 3

There's really only one way: amount to call divided by the total pot. So, 1k to call for a 3k pot = 3:1.

I think you might be thinking about calculating winning percentage or outs. This is far more tricky. For example, AA has a preflop 30% to 90% chance to win, depending on which website you consult.

Calculating outs is where you can take shortcuts. If, for example, you have 8 outs on an open-ended flush draw after the flop, heads up, on an 8 player table, you have 2 * (8/32) or a 50% chance of hitting the straight on the turn or river. On the river only, it's 1 * (8/30), or about 4 out of 15. As a general rule, your outs divided by 20 with the turn and river to come will give you a decent estimate, while outs divided by 40 with only the river will give you a decent estimate.

But, usually I'm lazy so my rule of thumb is: if it's over 4:1 to call, call it if you have any pair, an open-ended straight draw, or flush draw. If it's over 5:1, call with over cards or 3 cards to the nut flush. If it's over 10:1, call with anything. No matter how bad your hand is dominated, you almost always have a 10% chance to win any hand.

Conversely, always give 3:1 or lower if there's a possible flush draw on the board, 2:1 or 1:1 if you only have top pair/top kicker, and 4:1 if you want to encourage action with two pair or better.