Knowing how to calculate pot odds and outs are the basis for making good decisions while playing Texas Holdem Poker. If you know how to apply odds during your poker game you will have a big advantage over the others at the table.

Calculating outs means calculating the number of cards that could improve your hand and pot odds is simply the ratio of the money in the pot versus the amount required to make your next call. Again, this will often guide a poker player on whether to draw and try to make their hand.

One very important consideration is, if you do hit your hand, will you win the pot or not? There is no sense in putting more money into the pot if the hand you make is a losing hand.

How to calculate pot odds

Remember, pot odds are simply the ratio of the money in the pot versus the amount required to make your next call. If there is $8 in the pot and calling the hand will cost you $2 then the pot is laying you odds of $8 to $2 or 4 to 1.

If your odds of making the best hand are 4 to 1 or better than making the call is the right move. A hand that is 4 to 1 means that you will hit once in every 5 tries. You will hit the draw 20 percent of the time.

This next example takes into account calculating pot odds and outs.

Assume that your hole cards are a 7 and an 8 (for this example suits do not matter) and the flop came down 9-10-3.

In order to complete your hand you need a 6 or a Jack. You have eight outs that will improve your hand– 4-6’s and 4-Jack’s. First, multiply your outs (you have 8 of them) by 4 and you get 32. You have a 32 percent chance of making your hand. If there was only one card left to draw you would multiply by two.

If you have a 32 percent chance of making your hand it also means that you have a 68 percent chance of NOT making your hand. This is roughly 2 to 1 that you won’t make the hand. So, as long as the pot contains $2 for every $1 that you have to call, it is worth going after your straight.

Doing these quick calculations and interpreting them can be very difficult and confusing for a beginner (and many advanced players as well!). But I would recommend that you at least be able to quickly calculate your outs to give you an idea of just how likely you are to make your hand.

Then decide if that hand will win the pot for you or not.

When playing Texas Holdem Poker online, you only have a short time to do these calculations. A good odds calculator can not only calculate your pot odds and outs but also give you advice on how you should play the hand. The odds calculator that I recommend is Pokerbility. Pokerbility is easy to use. All you need to do is drag and drop it on the table you are playing at. Best of all it is approved for use at over 100 of the leading online poker rooms and now you can get it for free.

Just click here to get your free copy of Pokerbility.