counting chips to calculate pot odds

[Rounder Wannabe]

anyone have trouble calculating the size of the pot in a live game hahahah? It seems simple but sometimes the action goes too fast with bets/raises/reraises that i have trouble keeping track of the amt of money in any given pot. I've been playing limit 3/6, 4/8 lately. I try to keep track of the amt of chips everyone's betting and at the same time trying to pay attention to everything else. (the bettor/any tells/my own hand vs the board, etc etc)...

Anyone else ever have trouble keeping track? I know its simple math but sometimes i cant keep up!

Also, for those that do not have any trouble keeping track.. do you use any special "formula" to keep track other than.. 3+3+3+...etc?


I can do 2nd year calculus but not simple math! >=( damn simple math. damn it to heck!... and the bastard that cracks pocket aces

[Dave B]

Just count at the end of each round if you think it will matter. 3/4 of hands where I see a flop, I dont have to do the math.

But, when I do, the dealer will usually say preflop, "5 way action"-so 5x number of bets for each player. Turn and river are easier w/ less players.

[snoogins47]

Practice rules. Just next time you're playing live, try to keep track consciously. Before long you'll realize you're counting much more quickly, and accurately than you ever were, and you'll usually have a very good idea how much is in the pot.

And Dave's method is great if you're playing limit. In limit I tend to keep track in small bets, and then on the turn, just divide that by two and keep rockin. Makes pot odds calculations even easier. Instead of "$20 to win a pot that's $150" the first thought will be "7.5 to 1" that way.

[Muck]

In live games I often just ask.

Normally a couple of people quickly come back with an answer (they get added to the mental warning list of people paying attention).

There is a risk that people take your question as a tell that you’re on a draw so it’s best to mix it up a bit.
NB: I also play a lot of pot limit where this suggests I’m considering a pot-raise rather than calculating the odds for a call.