Pot Odds Explained: The Simple Formula With Examples
Pot odds tell you the price of a call compared with the size of the pot. If a call costs 50 chips and the pot already holds 150, you pay 50 to have a chance at 200, and the price is 25%.
On this page
What pot odds are
The pot is all the chips bet so far in the hand. When an opponent bets, you must put chips in to stay in the hand. Pot odds compare what you must pay with what is in the middle.
The idea is simple: a call is a good price when your chance to complete your hand is bigger than the price of the call. All numbers on this page are chips, and the maths here is about decisions, not about any result.
The formula
Price of a call = call / (pot + call). The pot here already includes the opponent's bet.
The pot is 100 chips. Your opponent bets 50, so the pot is now 150.
You must call 50. If you call, the pot will be 200, and you have paid 50 of it.
The price is 50 / 200 = 25%. You need a better than 25% chance to complete your hand for this call to be a good price.
Outs: the cards that help you
Outs are the unseen cards that would complete your draw and give you the best hand. Count the cards you cannot see, not the ones on the table or in your hand.
The rule of 4 and 2
This is a quick way to turn outs into a percentage. After the flop, multiply your outs by 4 to estimate the chance to complete your hand by the river. After the turn, multiply your outs by 2.
It is an approximation, not an exact number. With 9 outs it says 36% after the flop and 18% after the turn. The exact values are close, about 35% and 20%. The rule works well for 8 or 9 outs and gets less exact when you have many outs.
The rule of 4 assumes you see both the turn and the river without paying again. If there is another bet on the turn, use the rule of 2 for that decision.
Two worked examples
Your hole cards
The flop
You hold Ah 5h. The flop is Kh 9h 2c, so you have four hearts and need one more. That is 9 outs.
The pot is 200 chips and your opponent bets 50, so the pot is 250. A call costs 50 and the price is 50 / 300, about 17%.
The rule of 4 gives 9 x 4 = 36%. Your chance is bigger than the price, so a call makes sense by the numbers.
Your hole cards
The board
You hold 8d 7d. The board is 9c 6s Kh 2d. You need a 10 or a 5 for a straight, so 8 outs, and one card is left to come.
The pot is 100 chips and your opponent bets 100, so the pot is 200. A call costs 100 and the price is 100 / 300, about 33%.
The rule of 2 gives 8 x 2 = 16%. Your chance is smaller than the price, so by the numbers this call is too expensive.
What pot odds do not tell you
- The hand of your opponent. Some of your outs may also help the other player.
- Future bets. A bet on the next street can change the price.
- Whether a bluff is coming. The maths cannot read a player.
The maths helps decisions, but it does not decide any single hand. You can make a correct call and still miss your card, because poker has luck in every deal.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to add the opponent's bet to the pot before using the formula.
- Counting outs that you already see on the table.
- Using the rule of 4 when you will pay again on the turn.
- Calling only because the pot is large.
Frequently asked questions
What are pot odds in poker?
Pot odds compare the price of a call with the size of the pot after you call. The price is call / (pot + call), where the pot already includes the opponent's bet.
How do you count outs?
Count the unseen cards that would complete your hand. A flush draw has 9 outs and an open-ended straight draw has 8.
What is the rule of 4 and 2?
After the flop, multiply your outs by 4, and after the turn, multiply them by 2, to estimate your chance to hit. It is an approximation, not an exact value.
Do pot odds tell me to always call?
No. Pot odds only compare a price with a chance, and they say nothing about your opponent's hand or about later bets.