The important thing for players who want to get big wins is learning the odds in a poker game and how you can use them in a long run. Odds analysis helps new players improve their game results through simple mathematical tactics. To do this, you can study casino review, game tutorials, and gain enough information in order to strive for better results in the future.

Odds analysis is the first step toward introducing the mathematical side of gambling tactics. The ability to calculate the probability of winning will also allow you to make aware decisions and potentially have an advantage over other players. 

Pot odds

Calculating the probability of winning is one of the most requested systems for new users. This approach doesn’t require special knowledge or skills. A detailed calculation of your possible profit allows you to reduce risks and any monetary charges into classic mathematics. In general, pot odds are the ratio between the amount of the pot and the size of the bet. For example, if the starting pot reaches $10 and the player deposits $5 (half the pot), then the pot is now $15 and the player has to bet $5.

In this case, the ratios are equal to 15:5, and it is recommended to reduce the right element of the ratio to one. In addition, the rules for equations are the same as for a regular mathematical equation. If you divide both parts by five, the ratio is equal to 3:1. It is recommended to work further with this 3:1 ratio to represent it as a percentage. 

It is required to add both parts together in order to get four. Then divide 100% by four, and the result will be four identical parts of 25%. Multiplying both sides of the 3:1 ratio by 25% is 75:25. If you realize such a game strategy, you will be able to beat the opponent a little and win a strong hand in 25% of all hands.

Implied odds in the game

New players are confused by having money in the bank when calculating odds. The bottom line is that the money in the bank doesn’t belong to the player. The only way to get back the wagered money is to win the pot. For this reason, the invested money is not used in the calculation of bank ratios. An important aspect of the game is implied odds – an indicator that includes the bank’s money directly and the size of current bets, as well as additional bets when playing card combinations.

This includes calls from players on the river stage – they improve the overall pot odds, so you are allowed to include these bets in your calculations. At the same time, experts don’t recommend placing those options in which you are not sure. Some users underestimate the situation and their opponents, placing too much on the implied odds of winning, which leads to wrong actions.  

Odds after 3 hands

There are three main hands in the game that are directly related to the use of pot odds. It is important to calculate pot odds and decide whether to call or fold. 

Consider the $1/$2 buy-in situation. $1/$2 means the small and big blinds are $1 and $2 respectively. Once the blinds have been placed, the dealer will deal one card to each player, starting from the small blind position. In the pre-flop round, when everyone has two hole cards, the hand starts with the player to the left of the big blind. This player has three options: call, raise, or fold. So with the $1/$2 example, the first player has chances to both call the $2 big blind and choose to raise to at least $4 (eventually even being allowed to fold).

When the flop betting round is complete, the dealer takes the top card from the deck and places it face down on the table. The dealer then deals the first three of the five community cards face up. The small blind acts first in all rounds after the flop. If the small blind is still not in the hand, the next live player to the left of the small blind starts the game. In this situation, the player in the big blind has the option to check without putting any money into the pot, or bet at least $2 worth of the big blind. ​​If the small blind has not yet entered the game, then the next live player from the left position of the small blind enters the action. In this case, the player in the big blind can check without putting any money into the pot, or choose to bet at least $2 worth of the big blind.

The big blind then moves on to the turn, which is the fourth community card dealt to the table. As a result, the big blind checks, and the active player bets $20 into a $37 pot. The big blind raises to $60 and the live player calls by putting in another $40 to match the raise. The big blind’s move: Checking and then raising when the opponent bets are known as a “check-raise“. The pot is now $157 and two players reach the river stage. As a result, the big blind checks, and the live player checks back, keeping the pot at $157. The player who made the last aggressive move is usually the first to reveal their cards, and this part of the hand is called the showdown.

Response to waiting

The expected value is the amount that can be expected on average each time a hand is dealt. If a player supposedly has a pair of aces to place a $100 bet, and one player calls with A-K, then the way to determine the expected value is as follows: $100 must be multiplied by 100 to enter this situation 100 times. As a result, you will win 92 times and get your $100 plus your opponent’s $100 in return, for a total of $18,400. The remaining eight times you will have to lose your $100. Thus, an investment of $10,000 generates a profit of $8,400.

The odds table is an important tool for a beginner

It is important to calculate the probability of winning and the total size of your “good outs”. There are several ways to find out the actual odds of getting these outs: two methods are often used. The first method does without complex calculations – it is enough to use any convenient calculation table. Often, with a flush draw after the flop, the player has a 19.1% chance of collecting a bet (in general, the odds reach a figure of 4.22 to 1).

The second method requires the using of mathematics: the exact and shortest way to find out the opportunity to take the pot at the end of the gambling session. It’s worth analyzing the situation with a flush draw: the probability of making a flush from the flop to the river stage varies between 1.86 to 1. With 9 hearts received, 36 sets add up to make a flush with 5 hearts and also get 2 hearts. Here is a simple calculation:

(9 x 8 / 2 x 1) = (72 / 2) ≈ 36.

In this case, it will be possible to pick up 2 hearts, however, in the distribution, you need to have 1 card. Out of all 47 cards, as a result, 38 can create a set with the remaining 9 hearts, so there are 342 combinations (9 x 38 ≈ 342). Then it is worth including two sets to create a flush: 36 + 342 ≈ 380. The sets for turn and river will be 1081. This figure can be obtained as follows: 47 x 46 / 2 x 1 = 2162 / 2 ≈ 1081. The total sum of the possible outcomes of the hand equals 35.18518% (380/1081). If we translate 35% into a decimal expression and divide the reciprocal by it, we get 0.65 / 0.35 = 1.8571428. So, it is possible to achieve an indicator of 1.86.

Thus, it is recommended to introduce a number of mathematical calculations and certain tables of coefficients in the calculation of the bank’s odds. It is important to memorize the standard indicators for card layouts and hand rounds. As a result, the betting process requires less effort, and the assessment of the odds allows you to make rational decisions.