figuring odds

[jmcnutt28]

I was just wondering how long it took everybody to figure out pot odds. I have been playing poker for about 6 months now, but it was only recently that I started getting really serious about it. A couple weeks ago I started to really think about the odds. But it always takes me awhile to think through it even though I'm really good at math. I always seem pressured to move quickly and I freeze up and can't think. Does everyone go through this at the beginning, and if so, how long did it take to get comfortable with it? I understand how to do the odds, it just takes me awhile to think it through.

Thanks.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

Practice is about the only thing I can recommend. Try sitting at home and working them out in sample pots before you actually play. It will get easier and come naturally in time.

[HalfSugar]

In case you have yet to come across it - there is a simple rule of thumb called the 4/2 rule which is a quick way to calculate pot odds and is pretty accurate. It is as follows:

After the flop has been dealt, count up your outs and multiply by 4 to get your percentage chance of hitting one of them.

After the turn has been dealt, count up your outs and multiply by 2 to get your percentage chance of hitting one of them.

The flop calculation is usually within 1% of the actual odds vs within 2% for the turn card calculation.

A lot of people use this and I would highly recommend using it. Since you know math well - test it out and you'll see that it works

[Will Sidis]

Isn't that effective odds? He said pot odds.

Pot odds were easy for me. I just thought of it like a ratio. 400 pot with 100 to call = 4 to 1. You could just round to the nearest whole number. It wouldn't be as accurate but you would be more efficient.

But, if JMC was asking for actual odds, I usually just remember that there are 47 unseen cards on the flop and 46 on the turn, then I count my outs and see where I'm at. This took me a couple of months to get to, i.e. after I started to play. Before that I used the 4/2 method.

[jmcnutt28]

i meant the actual odds, not the pot odds... but the 4/2 rule is working really well so far. thanks a lot.

[Sean_in_NJ]

i meant the actual odds, not the pot odds...

The odds are kinda meaningless without the context of pot size. Functionally, they're the same thing.

Like DC said, just practice. There are common situations which should be easy to memorize, like flush draws, straight draws and gutshots. The rest will come with experience.