Odds in poker can be a bit…odd. So let’s break down pot odds, implied odds, and give you some free tools so you can quickly calculate these on your own. Or skip ahead to the calculator for you:
- Pot Odds Calculator (Facing Bets)
- Offering Pot Odds Calculator (Making Bets)
- Implied Odds Calculator (Facing Bets)
Pot Odds Poker Calculator
If you are new to pot odds, I suggest watching this quick pot odds poker video to get up to speed. It’s only 5 minutes long and breaks the term down simply. If you are comfortable with the concept, you can use this calculator to show the ratio and equity requirement when you are facing a bet.
Just update the top two fields (the size of the bet you are facing and the size of the pot) and the ratio & equity requirement get automatically populated for you.
When facing bets and raises in poker, you are always getting odds. This is why you can profitably continue even if you do not rate to have the best hand right at this moment.
Pot odds simply compare the size of the bet you have to call to the size of the pot. They are a mathematical expression of risk and reward that can then be used to make better plays both preflop and postflop.
Whenever you see a statement like “I am getting 2:1 on a call” you are seeing pot odds expressed as a simplified ratio. Essentially, the number left of the colon is the reward, and the number right of the colon is your risk. In the event of getting 2:1 on a call, you are risking 1 unit to win 2 units.
Keep in mind that the size of their bet is included in the current size of the pot.
You can then take this ratio and find the equity requirement for continuing profitably. Simply take Risk / (Risk + Reward) and the number you get is how much equity your hand needs to have in order to make calling profitable. In the event of getting 2:1 pot odds, you would take 1/(1+2) and see that you need at least 33% equity to continue. If your hand’s equity is higher than 33%, you would continue (either by calling or raising). If your hand’s equity is lower than 33%, you would want to consider future playability and implied odds before you automatically muck your hand.
Still Not "Getting" Poker Math?
Do you shy away from the math even though you know it would help you play better poker? If yes, this workbook will help you memorize the key formulas, internalize the calculations, and build your intuition to make better decisions at the table.
Get the full-color ebook with 1,500+ questions and a complete answer key today.
Betting & Pot Odds Calculator
It is also important to understand that your opponent gets pot odds whenever you bet or raise.
By thinking ahead and considering the pot odds your bet size would offer your opponent, you can be proactive in offering them unfavorable pot odds – whether you are trying to bluff more often or value bet. Just plug in your bet size and the pot size BEFORE you bet to see the pot odds ratio and equity requirement your opponent would be getting.
This might lead you to ask “Which odds should I focus on when betting? The pot odds I am offering, or the breakeven % of my bet?” I did a short YouTube video on this years ago called “Which Odds Do I Focus On?” that I would suggest watching. My beard may be much smaller in that video, but the answer is still spot-on.
Not sure what BE% is? This guide explains the breakeven percentage in poker.
Implied Odds Poker Calculator
Often you will face bets or raises that offer you incorrect pot odds to continue. But instead of immediately throwing your hand into the muck, you should consider the implied odds. Essentially, implied odds gauge how much money you can expect to win the times your hand improves.
You can use this free tool to figure out how much extra you need to make on the next street to make your immediate call OK. Just enter how often your hand will improve to the winner, the current pot size after they bet, and the size of the bet you are facing.
The formula for implied odds is this:
Where C is how much you have to call right this moment, P is the size of the pot after your opponent bets, and Eq is how often you will improve to a winning hand vs. their betting range. The answer is how much you need to win on future streets to offset getting immediately incorrect pot odds. (Hint, if the resulting calculation is negative, it means you already have correct pot odds to continue.)
Read this entire guide if you are new to the concept of ranges in poker.
But this may be too cumbersome to do at the tables.
Another method, and this is the one that I personally use, is to compare ratios. Take a simple example where you are facing a $10 bet into a $10 pot. You are getting 2:1 pot odds, but suspect you only have 25% equity. So you would really need to be getting 3:1 pot odds to make this call correct given the equity of your hand.
The shortcut is to find the gap between the first numbers and multiply that by the bet you are facing. In this example, there is a gap of 1 between the 2 and 3, and if you multiply 1*$10 you see that you need to make $10 extra dollars later in the hand to make this an acceptable call.
Whichever method you use to calculate implied odds is fine. Just remember that the more you practice doing these calculations, the easier it will be to make proper estimations at the table.
Why Are These Odd Calculators Different?
If you are newer to poker calculators, you might be confused why the bettor is getting different odds when betting compared to the player facing the bet.
The simple answer is that the bettor is risking their bet to win the pot right that moment. On the other hand, the player facing the bet is risking chips to win the original pot PLUS the bettor’s bet. So inherently, both players will be offered different odds.
I might suggest watching this video to more deeply wrap your head around the bettor’s math since it’s imperative to understand the math behind firing bets and raises in poker.
Want More Poker Tools?
You can download my collection of poker spreadsheets, tools, and calculators today. They are a name-your-own-price product, and yes, you can enter $0 and get them for free. But if you throw in a few chips you’ll get all of the tools + my “Playing One Pair Hands” PRO video + over $200 in discounts. As usual, when you support me – I support you even more!
