Question about pot odds?

Question

Ok, I know that the basic idea about pot odds is that the amount to call should be lower than my chances of making my hand. For example, if I feel that I need to hit trips on my pocket pair, I need pot odds of 7:1 or better. However, in book after book and article after article, writers talk about 4:1 being "monster" pot odds. Ok, I can understand that since the odds of hitting two pair is 4:1. However, I've recently seen articles where 2.5:1 is considered "good."

Ok, so what's the real scoop? What is "good" pot odds?

Answer 1

iguanas is right about implied odds.  2:1 odds can be good even if you don't have a fifty percent chance of hitting your hand, but that if you do hit your hand, you still expect a lot of money to be going into the pot.  For example, if you're drawing to a full house against a flush or a straight, you expect a lot more money to go into the pot if you do make your hand.

Answer 2

"good pot odds" is completely dependent on your hand and the number of outs you expect to have, as well as the number of cards to come

for example, if you have just a flush draw with one card to come, and believe that you have to make the flush to win the hand, then 3:1 is not good enough odds to justify making a call, mathematically speaking...however, if you have a flush draw, open-end straight draw, and two overcards that you think can win you the pot, now even 1.5:1 is good enough odds to continue on with the hand...also, if you go back to the first example with the dry flush draw, if there are two cards to come then 3:1 is proper odds to continue playing...so there you can see some of the factors that should go into your decision

Answer 3

Yes you need 7.5-1 (11% chance) odds to hit your set. However, sets have incredible implied odds. You can break a player when you have 22 and your oppenent has AA on a 23K flop. Generally, when your oppenent raises 3-4 bb preflop and you are out of position its ok to call. When you have position its ok to call up to 6bb. There are many things to consider.

1. Stack sizes. You dont have implied odds if your oppenent has nothing. If your oppenent has 25 bb fold 22-66. If your oppenent has 50 bb, call 3bb OOP (out of position) and 4bb in position. When your oppenent has 100bb do the above (3-4 OOP, 3-6 In position)

2. Position- with position YOU CAN EXTRACT VALUE ALOT EASIER. You wont always have a perfect flop. thats when it comes down to how you extract value off your oppenent

3. How tight your oppenent is- The tighter your oppenent the better because theres a higher chance he has AA (when you hit a set hes goes busto).

4. What position did he raise from?

The earlier the position he raises the better the chance he has AA.

MAKE SURE YOU CONSIDER ALL 4 ASPECTS B4 YOU DECIDE TO CALL. 1.5:1 is good when you have 100bb. 3-1 is c**p when your oppenent has 25bb.

Another thing to consider against a decent group of oppenents is that you should start raising ALL pocket pairs so you disguise your hand. raise all pocket pairs in all positions in 6 max tables. Raise 22-66 in middle position or better in a 9 handed game.

Remember, its ok to fold 55 preflop.

If you dont understand implied odds, google or read the below link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implied_odd...

Answer 4

2.5 is decent odds, but what a lot of ppl dont include is also implied odds. the amount of money you expect to win on the next round of betting if you do hit your draw.

Answer 5

You have already received alot of good advice on this issue.  Whether you are getting proper odds to call depends upon your hand, the only universal good pot odds would be getting 7 to 1 or better (heck, then just about any conceivable hand can be justified).  However, that doesn't mean you need to get that pre-flop with a mid or small pp, if that were the case, seldom if ever, should they be mathimatically played.  The only advice that you got that I differ with, and alot of folks use the stratagy (it isn't a bad one, I just don't use it) is raising with mid or small pps.  I want to see a multi way pot, in case my set hits, and if it doesn't I have very little invested in the hand and I can get away from it.  The only other problem with raising with that hand is the obvious, anyone who calls has you beat a good bit of the time, and you still aren't going to hit your set  most of the time. (only 20%).  by not raising my hand is still disguised because little pp.s aren't the only hand I will limp with in possition, and those who play poker with me know that. And now that implied odds are in vogue, why worry so much about pot odds, because you can almost justify most donk plays with them, if the flop hit you in any way, lol.  Fine example...Action Dan's call on the WPT last night that durn near lost him the title.