The formula
Equity needed = amount to call ÷ (pot before your call + amount to call)
"Pot before your call" includes your opponent's bet. The result is the minimum chance of winning that makes the call break even over many hands.
Worked example
- The pot is 100. Your opponent bets 50, so the pot is now 150.
- You must call 50. After your call the pot will be 200.
- Equity needed: 50 ÷ 200 = 25%.
- Expressed as a ratio, the pot is offering you 150 to 50, or 3 to 1.
Common bet sizes and the equity they demand
| Opponent bets | Pot odds offered | Equity you need to call |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter pot | 5 to 1 | 16.7% |
| Third of the pot | 4 to 1 | 20% |
| Half pot | 3 to 1 | 25% |
| Two thirds pot | 2.5 to 1 | 28.6% |
| Full pot | 2 to 1 | 33.3% |
| Twice the pot | 1.5 to 1 | 40% |
Putting pot odds and outs together
Say you hold a flush draw on the turn. You have 9 outs and one card to come: 9 ÷ 46 = 19.6% (see outs and odds).
- Opponent bets a third of the pot: you need 20%. Almost exactly break-even.
- Opponent bets half the pot: you need 25%. Calling loses chips in the long run, unless you expect to win more later.
- Opponent bets a quarter of the pot: you need 16.7%. Calling is profitable.
On the flop, if your opponent is all-in so you are sure to see both cards, the flush draw is 35% and you can call a bet up to about the size of the pot.
Implied odds
Pot odds only count the chips already in the middle. Implied odds add what you expect to win on later streets if you hit. With deep stacks and an opponent who will pay you off, a draw can be worth calling even when the pot odds alone say no. The reverse, reverse implied odds, is when hitting your hand can still cost you, such as a small flush against a bigger one.
Pot odds at a home game
The hardest part of pot odds at a live table is knowing the pot. With EasyPoker, the pot is shown as an exact number on every player's phone, so the formula above is one division.