calculating out odds / pot odds

[sdlangers]

hi,

ive read that in a limit game (especially online ones) your odds of making an out and the pot odds are very important.

so - if i have AK pre flop - and i want to work out my odds of making a pair - should i only take the top pair (i.e. Aces) or should i work out my chances of making either pair?

thanks

[sdlangers]

to add to my question:

where im getting at is say i have AK preflop - there are 3 outs to make a pair of aces and 3 outs to make a pair of kings - so there are 6 outs of making either pair - this seems like it would be ok since either pair would be pretty good.

however if i had A2 preflop - then i'd still have 6 outs to make either pair - but pairing 2s wouldnt be very useful to me.

so i'm wondering how to work this into the calculation

[Jayarr85]

You're confusing yourself. If you have AK preflop, you aren't looking for "outs". What's going on is that you have the 3rd best starting hand preflop. That means there are only 2 hands that are better than yours preflop. So it doesn't matter if you catch a pair, you could still have the lead. Now if you get called all in by pocket jacks or something of that stature, then you have 6 outs. But those kinds of showdowns are coin flips. The jacks have the lead slightly, something like 54% to 46%. There are a few websights that actually calculate odds for you, unfortunately, I don't know any of them. Hope that helps.

[chauncy]

While AK is a good starting hand, it is not the 3rd best hand. Any pocket pair beats AK, however by looking at outs and the odds of hitting them its a great starting hand. Just not 3rd best. (Of course your outs are better with AK suited)

[sdlangers]

hi - thanks for your replies.

i should clarify a bit - im a programmer writing a simple poker game, but wanted to add in a chart that showed each of the main hands - from royal flush down to pair - and have beside each of the hands, the % that you will make them on the flop, turn and river given your hole cards - (like a small table) - so my question isnt specific to AK ..

in other words - when im working out the %s, should i separate out the hands - or just show an either/or reult - i.e. if you had AK, i'd show the % of getting either a pair of As or a pair of Ks (in this case it wouldnt matter much - but if it was A2 it would i think?)

which do you think would be more beneficial for the player?

[Adamm]

Hey, I think this post might be more helpful in the "Odds and Probability" section of the forum. I'll probably move it in a day or two. Beware!

[sdlangers]

yeah, sorry - didnt see that section at first - please do move it!
thanks

[vegasholdem]

if i have AK pre flop - and i want to work out my odds of making a pair - should i only take the top pair (i.e. Aces) or should i work out my chances of making either pair?

thanks

Using either 2 holecards: it's 2.5 to 1 against flopping a pair
Using only 1 of your holecards; it's 5 to 1 against flopping a pair

Go with the 2.5 to 1...raise/reraise everytime you are dealt this hand!!!

[Cyberhwk]

i should clarify a bit - im a programmer writing a simple poker game, but wanted to add in a chart that showed each of the main hands - from royal flush down to pair - and have beside each of the hands, the % that you will make them on the flop, turn and river given your hole cards

Depends on what you mean by "Make Tthem?"

The Wizard of Odds did something similer here...http://wizardofodds.com/games/holdem.html

[Femx]

actually AKs IS the 3rd best hand you can have pre flop :D