How to Calculate Texas Holdem Poker Odds

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By Diane Dilov-Schultheis
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The game of Texas Holdem poker has two types of odds, which you need to understand. It is very important to know how to calculate both poker hand odds and pot odds. This is the mathematics of the game of poker and the more knowledge you have in this area, the better poker player you will be. You can find several very complicate formulas discussed concerning poker hand odds, but as long as you understand the basic concept, you can improve your chances of winning.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Figure out what cards could improve your first two cards to make a poker hand. Every card that is left in the deck that would do this must be counted. Examples will be given as if you had a pair in your hand, which would leave two cards in the deck to improve your hand. If you were going for any other hand, you would need to use the number corresponding to that hand.
Step 2

You divide the number you calculated in Step 1 by the cards that are left in the deck. This number would be 50 cards before the flop--the two cards in your hand, subtracted from the total 52 cards in the deck. You take the number from Step 1 and divide it by 50 to figure your pre-flop hand odds (example: two divided by 50 = .04, or 25 to 1).
Step 3

On the flop you subtract the three cards on the table (community cards) plus your two cards. This would be 47 (52 total cards minus the two in your hand and the three on the table). Take the number from Step 1 and divide it by 47 to figure your flop hand odds (example: if you don’t get one of your cards on the flop, two divided by 47 = .0425, or 23.5 to 1).
Step 4

After the next community card (fourth street/turn) is placed on the table, if you still did not get any of your cards, the number you would use would be 46 (52 total cards minus the two in your hand and the four on the table). Use the number from Step 1 and divide it by 46 to figure your odds (example: two divided by 46 = .0435, or 23 to 1).
Step 5

Pot odds are the total amount in the pot compared to the amount needed to call. You compare your hand odds to your pot odds. When your hand odds ratio is above the pot odds ratio, you should continue to play. If they are less, it is not a good idea to stay in the poker hand (example: if the pot is $100 total and to call the bet is $10, your pots odds are 100:10 or 10 to 1). These pot odds are more than the hand odds given in the example for a pair (25 to 1 pre-flop), so you should not continue in the hand.
Step 6

You repeat Step 5 for every round of Texas Holdem poker and play accordingly.