If you want to move from being a casual poker player to a consistently winning one, there’s one concept you absolutely must master: pot odds. It might sound intimidating, but it’s the simple foundation of all profitable poker math, and understanding it is the key to turning guesses into educated, long-term winning decisions.

This guide will break down pot odds in the simplest terms, show you how to calculate them, and explain why they are the secret to knowing when to call and when to fold.

What Are Pot Odds, Anyway?

In short, pot odds are the price you are being offered to see the next card. They represent the mathematical relationship between the size of the pot and the size of the bet you have to call.

Think of it like a sale at a store. If a shirt you want is 50% off, you’re getting a good price. If it’s only 5% off, the price isn’t as appealing. Pot odds tell you exactly how good the “price” is that the pot is offering you to continue with your hand.

How to Calculate Pot Odds: A Simple Step-by-Step Example

Let’s say you’re in a hand and have a flush draw on the turn.

• The Pot is $80.
• Your opponent bets $20.

The pot now contains the original $80 plus your opponent’s $20, for a total of $100. You have to call $20 to potentially win that $100.

Your pot odds are $100 to $20.

To simplify this, you just divide the first number by the second: 100 / 20 = 5.

So, your pot odds are 5 to 1.

Why Do Pot Odds Matter? From Odds to Percentages

Knowing you’re getting 5-to-1 odds is great, but what does it mean? The next step is to turn those odds into the minimum equity your hand needs to win to make the call profitable. This is called your “required equity.”

Here’s the simple formula:

Required Equity % = (Amount to Call) / (Total Pot Size + Amount to Call)

Using our example:

• Amount to Call: $20
• Total Pot Size: $100 (the $80 pot + the $20 bet)

Required Equity = $20 / ($100 + $20) Required Equity = $20 / $120 Required Equity = 16.7%

This means that if your hand has more than a 16.7% chance of winning by the river, calling is a profitable (+EV) play in the long run. If your chance is lower, you should fold.

Stop Guessing: Use Our Free Pot Odds Calculator

Feeling the pressure? Doing this math in real-time is tough. That’s why we built a powerful tool to do the heavy lifting for you.

Free Pot Odds Calculator Here

Simply enter the pot size and the bet you’re facing, and our calculator will instantly show you the pot odds and the exact equity your hand needs to continue profitably.

What About Implied Odds?

Sometimes, it’s correct to call even if your pot odds aren’t technically good enough. This is due to implied odds—the money you expect to win on future streets if you hit your hand. For example, if you hit your flush on the river and are confident your opponent will pay off another bet, your implied odds are very high, making the initial call much more attractive.

Mastering pot odds is your first step. Once you have that down, you can begin to think about the more advanced concept of implied odds to win even bigger pots. Start by practicing with our calculator to build your intuition and make winning decisions a habit.