Archive for the ‘Poker FAQ’ Category

On Revealing Hands

Hi,

I hope you don’t mind but I want to know your thoughts on showing other players your cards if they all fold or if according to the rules you don’t have to show them. I heard some say that showing your cards won’t give you anything good instead would just give other players information about you. But I also heard from some players that if you play tight in the beginning and show those good cards even when you don’t have to, you can later bluff more effectively. What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks a ton!

Best regards,
Franc
Franc,

Showing your cards gives other opponents information that they can use against you. You can also use this to your advantage. Personally, I don’t start showing most hands until later in the tournament to try and give off the illusion that I always have a strong hand when I’m in the pot. That way, I tend to get less action from people with stack equal to mine unless they have a big hand. This in turn allows me to put people on hands easier and allows me sometimes to ease into the money without massive confrontations.

Declaring No Side Bets

Hello,

I’ll be hosting a game with up to 8 players and with a dealer. What I want to know now is that, can I actually declare no side bets? Or else it’s forbidden?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks a ton!

Best regards,
Collin
Collin,

You cannot declare no side bet in regards to the actual play of hands. Now if you are talking about people making prop bets or having bets on the side that are unrelated to the poker hands being played, then that is your right to outlaw that. Otherwise, you cannot tell player that they cannot bet if they are not all-in.

Check-Raising

Hello,

I’ve been into poker for so long. I actually learned the game as a kid more or less 50 years ago. Well, for me, a weekend home game of 5-7 players was fairly common. Players I remember were mostly middle-aged or older and actually were immigrants. While the games, well mostly draw or 5 or 7 stud, and hi-low.

If I remember it right, check-raising in those games was forbidden. Back then, check-raising was something unethical. Bluffing on the other hand, though sounds ironic, was okay if you don’t do it that much.

As of the moment, I believe check-raising adds to strategy as well as to the enjoyment and fairness of the game. Your thoughts?

Thanks a bunch,
Lowell
Lowell,

Check raising used to be frowned upon and even outlawed in a lot of card rooms. Today, the move is considered a normal part of strategy. In fact, it is a skill that every poker player should utilize in order to make more money.

Unusual Offer

Hello,

Recently I played low-limit in Vegas. In the small blind, I remember everyone folded to me and consequently asked me something. Because I had a playable hand, I was already limping in. The question was actually about my willingness to take our blinds back and play the next hand. Well, the opinion of the dealer then was that it was already too late as I had already called. Your thoughts on this?

By the way, why do you think the big blind offered such considering if I later choose not to take his offer it will look like as if he doesn’t have a strong hand?

Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Daniel
Daniel,

When just the blinds are left, it is not uncommon for the blinds to “chop” the bet and take their blinds back. You are not required to do so however. You may still play your hand.

About Chip Stacking

Hi!

What’s your thoughts about chip stacking? The other day, I watched a live play game by which all the chips used were colored out to only 2 color chips. There was also one player who had his larger chips hidden behind the cheaper chips and had a cheaper chip on top of his larger chips for others to think he only had stacks of cheaper chips. The opponent of the said player went all-in at some point and lost however later on found out they had the same amount of chips.

What’s your thoughts about what the guy did? Do you think it was something unethical and unacceptable?

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Darwin
Darwin,

Larger denomination chips are required to be visible at all times at the table. This is a rules violation. If the player with hidden chips moved all in and was called, his larger chips are still in play even if they are hidden.

Break Issue

Hi,

I have some questions to ask but I don’t know if they would make sense.

Say you are playing in a live poker room and need to use the facilities or want to get some of the free grub, what will you do then? Leave your chips behind or take them with you as you go?

Another thing, do you have any idea what will happen in case one of the blinds passes you by while you are gone? Do you think there’ll be a need to ante up again?

Many thanks,
Clark
Clark,

If you need to go to the restroom or get food, you leave your chips at the table. If you are in a cash game, you will not be dealt a hand while you are gone. When you come back, if the blinds have past you, you may either post the blinds to get back in the game, or wait until the blinds come back to you.

If you are in a tournament you will be dealt cards and those cards mucked when action comes to you. Your blinds and antes will also be posted in your absence.

To Cut the Cards

Hi,

In a home game or tournament, do you have to offer someone to cut the cards?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Jules
Jules,

It is customary to offer someone to cut the cards, but it is not a rule of the game. I offer a cut. It cuts down on the suspicion of cheating.

On Etiquette

Hi,

I’m wondering if you can explain to me the betting etiquette for no limit. Can you? And do you know what makes players mad in casinos with betting? How about the rules with string betting, any idea?

Say player 1 raises 20 chips. Player 2 then calls 20 chips by placing those chips into the pot. He then reaches back after the 20 chips is in, he goes all in.

If in case, I might say (along with some friends) that Player 2′s 20chips in the pot, without saying “raise” and after pulling his hands out of the pot, is a call. But if he later chooses to leave the rest of his chips in, it will be considered as a bet in the dark.

Another thing, if players 1, 2, and 3 are involved in a hand and player 2 drops one of his cards accidentally and player 1 sees it, 1 and 2 now know one of 2′s pocket cards. Do you think player 2 has to flip the card for the rest to see? Your thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,
Herbie
Herbie,

First, Player two made a string bet. When you make a raise, you must either do it all in one motion or verbally that you’re going to raise. Player 2 just called in that case.

Also, player 2 may not leave his chips out as a dark bet, unless he is first to act the next hand. If he is first to act and wishes to bet dark, he may.

In the case where a card was exposed, yes, he must flip it over for everyone else to see that is in the hand. Show one, show all.

Revealing Your Hand at Showdown

Hello,

I remember in the movie Mavrick, James Coburn at some point said something to the effect of “I only have two pair, Aces and Aces”. Do you think what he said has some negative effects?

By the way, your site is so great. Keep up the good work!

All the best,
Wesley
Wesley,

Actually, Coburn said, “I have two small pair. Eights, and Eights.” I love Maverick. It’s a fun move and involves my favorite game, Five Card Draw. Coburn didn’t do anyone a disservice by calling his hand like this. In most casinos, cards speak. What this means is that the dealer determines the winner of the hand by identifying the winning hand. You don’t have to know your exact hand to win, although you should.

Teamwork Cheating

Hi,

Just recently, I played in a $50 NL tournament held at my friend’s house by which second placer would win back his buy-in and first would take the rest. The tournament was actually composed of 8 players, 4 I personally knew before. I’m not boasting here or what but I believe I was the best player back then but was just eliminated first when my pocket Kings ran into Aces preflop. At some point, game was down to 3 players, a friend and two others I don’t know personally. Much later, it was already a heads up play. One of the two had approximately a 2:1 chip lead. The said guy had not spoken any word since the game started but suddenly exclaimed he wanted to split the pot. I then thought there was something unusual, I suspected for a teamwork cheating. Others also suspected for the same thing. After a while, one of the two suddenly said that he doesn’t like to play heads up and it was his right then to split the pot. He then told the third player that he would be getting his money back.

To me, it really appeared as a teamwork cheating. In fact, they don’t even bet into one another. Well, an argument appeared but not a hostile one.

Any thoughts? What would you consider a teamwork cheating?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Johnny Bekham
Johnny,

This was not cheating. When players get down to two or three players in tournaments, it is not uncommon for a deal to be struck to split the pot. Heads-up poker a lot of times can be more luck than skill, especially with high blinds and cutting a deal helps to offset some of that luck.

I would consider two players colluding if the were sitting there and clearly slow playing each other. Such as someone making a large raise and then folding to a small bet from the other player. Another example would be someone making a big raise, someone going all in for a little more, and the other person folding. Things that look really out of place are usually signs of cheating.

Opponents Getting Mad

Hello,

I was in a certain event the other night. Before the flop, there was no raise and I was in the small blind therefore I called a 8d-4d. Flop then brought Ks-10d-6-d. After a while, my opponent raised a small amount and so I called it. Turn came and brought 7c. He later put me all-in which made me think I already have sufficient outs to call him. Afterwards, I showed my hand and he showed his pair of 10′s. Before he could say anything back then, river came and brought 9h. In the end, I won the pot with the straight. Before we finally called the game over, he said something to me like “How can you call me with an 8 high flush draw?” and I told him I didn’t even need the flush to beat him. Your thoughts on this?

Well, I also got into with this opponent later when he raised me $10 and I came over the top and with an Ace high raised him $40. He then folded and I showed it to him but he said I don’t have to make such act at all. On my part, I did it to let him know I wasn’t afraid to bluff but at some point I don’t know if it’s a bad poker etiquette actually. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Jason
Jason,

In the first hand, unless the bet on the turn was less than 25% of the pot, you really should not have called that bet. You did not have the odds to draw. You needed to catch a five or your flush to win, but at the turn you had only a 24% chance to win.

It’s not bad etiquette to show your hand, but some people take it as you showing them up or trying to embarrass them.

Sharing Information With Players Outside the Game

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for some time now and I’ve already played in 3 various poker situations, casino, online and with friends in home games. Amongst the 3, I found playing with friends the most exciting.

Well, ever since, I have a group of about 12 men that get together and play. I believe because we are only 12, most of us can easily pick up habits of each other and then remember them quickly.

Now, do you think it is fair or ethical to discuss one’s tell, tendencies, habits, etc. with other guys not up for playing?

Thanks a bunch!

All the best,
Vincent
Vincent,

As long as you are not doing it during a hand, there is no problem with this. Actually, it may help you improve as a player as you are analyzing others play and your own. I encourage you to do so.

About Betting Etiquette

Hi,

I have something to ask about betting etiquette. Just the other day, I saw on TV that Daniel Negreanu was on heads up against an amateur. Back then, blind/antes were relatively low. At some point, Daniel placed $600 bet while his opponent went all in with $40,000. After a while, Daniel went on a bit upset due to the all in move. I remember he even said something like “What’s going on here? You move all in against my $800 bet. Last time this other guy raises to $10,000 after a $100 bet.” His opponent then said “Well, that’s poker.” Daniel then answered back with “I don’t know what kind of poker you play, but THAT’S not poker!” Announcers at the event then noticed that Daniel was already a bit frustrated with the amateurs.

Now, because of what I saw on TV, I want to know if there’s any etiquette to be considered when moving all in or else making a huge bet, any idea? Do you think, you can actually make a very huge bet or move all in with lots of money?

Thanks a ton!

Regards,
Andie
Andie,

Daniel’s frustration wasn’t due to any sort of ethical violation. It was due to the fact that players are laying such a huge price. By this I mean, they are raising unrealistic amounts to win a small amount. As Annie Duke said one time, these players that lay these huge prices will only get called by players that can beat them. At this point they are eliminated.

You can bet as much as you want at any time as long as it’s your turn to bet. Just know that when you bet an insane amount to win a little amount, when you get called, you will likely lose.

How to Calculate Poker Odds

Hello,

I have a problem on how to calculate poker odds. Well, I have already seen all the hand odds/probabilities charts and already found brief summaries on how to calculate poker odds. But still, I have some questions in mind. Say you didn’t get an ace for a first card and so the odds of getting it on your second increase to 51:1. I know writing everything in paper is quite impractical, so can I do the calculation myself?

Assume that I have two suited cards in my hand and I like to calculate the poker odds of drawing a complete flush by the flop, and so as by the turn and river. In case I have 3 to the flush on the flop, what’s next? How about 4 to the flush on the flop, etc.?

Please help me. Thank you in advance!

Best regards,
Charlie Cowell
Charlie,

By all means, if you would rather do calculations yourself, you can, but to be honest, doing them on paper is long and drawed out. You need to learn to be able to do these calculations in your head. You should use the 4 – 2 method to calculate odds. Also, you shouldn’t be trying to figure odds on runner runner draws. That is just going to burn money out of your stack.

On 4/2 Rule

Hi,

Well I’m aware of the shortcut used when figuring out poker odds that I really like; the 4 – 2 rule. And I understand to take the number of outs you have before the turn and simply multiply it by 4 to know your success rate. And before the river, do the same thing but multiply it by 2. I wonder if there’s a shortcut that use the same methodology, you think of any?

Thank you in advance!

Best regards,
Howell
Howell,

The 4-2 rule IS the shortcut. Figuring odds usually involves long equations that many math challenged people can’t grasp. This is a simplified way to do things.

What’s Next After Knowing the Odds?

Hi,

I’m wondering if what these percentages tell me. In case we use a 4 to the flush after the flop scenario, I have a 36% chance to make my hand. In the event we go all the way by math, my chances aren’t greater than 50%. Do you think if not all, most of my plays should only be when I have greater than 50% to make my hand? Or else if not, then what? Semi-bluff, raise, call or fold? And for me to stay in, how should the pot be?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Tim
Tim,

What should determine whether you stay in the pot or not is the pot odds. The way to determine pot odd is to take the amount of money that you need call a bet and divide it by the amount of the pot before your call. This tells you what percentage your call is to the pot. If the call is less than or equal to the percentage to hit your hand, then you can make the call.

Cards Unseen and Odds

Hi,

I’ve been checking on your site for some tips and strategies. One time as I was reading one of your articles, I thought of something which I can’t directly figured out. Most of the time, you base the establishing of the odds of getting a card on fourth street and then on fifth street on the remaining deck, for an instance 47 then 46. Well to me this is just simple to understand but I have one concern. In case there are nine other players, each with two pocket cards, will the probability of catching `your trips/four of a kind, straight, flush etc., become conditional on your need cards not sitting in another pocket? How do you think one figures out the real statistical probabilities with regards to such?

I’ll be glad to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Lance
Lance,

You figure your probability based on unseen cards. Just because the cards “might” be in someone else’s hand, that does not mean they are. I’m sure that the statistical probabilities are available on said scenario, but they are not part of practical poker odds calculations.

When to Draw

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for some time now but for some reasons I still don’t when I’m supposed to draw. Any thoughts? For an instance I have a four flush on the flop and someone bets big, do you think I should call fold? Or if not, raise?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks a lot!

Warm regards,
Romeo
Romeo,

You should only draw to a straight or flush when you have the proper odds to do so. The simplest way to figure this out is first to determine what outs you have. Say you have 9 outs to hit your hand after the flop. Multiply this by 4 and you have your percentage to hit your hand. If you are on the turn, multiply by 2. Next, divide the amount that you must call in the pot, by the current pot size. This will give you the percentage of the pot that your call represents. If the percentage of your hitting the hand is greater than or equal to the percentage of the pot that you must call, then you should draw. If not, then fold.

Improving Pocket Cards Odds

Hi there!

I’m here once again to ask something. This time my question is regarding odds of improving pocket cards. Once I had the chance to take a look at the table you provided under the heading ‘Hand odds and probabilities’ but things seemed a bit confusing as the poker terminologies used were complexed then.

Now, say I am dealt a pocket pair and I would like to know the odds of improving this by the flop, turn and river for all possible combinations. Format could be like ??/1 and could actually be used for other variations of pocket cards like suited cards for flushes and straight flushes, connected cards for straights, and the like.

I’ll be expecting for your response in no time.

Thanks a ton!

Regards,
Gerard McClaine
Gerard,

First lets figure out your odds not to improve on each card on the flop. First, 48 cards out of 50 will not improve you hand on the flop. This is represented by 48/50. The second card is 47/50, and the third card 46/50. You then divide the numerator by the denominator and get you percentage for each card. For our example that is .96, .959, and .958. Multiply those three numbers together and you get .88, which is 88%. This means that there is an 88% chance that you will miss the flop and a 12% chance that you will hit the flop and make your set.

Beyond this, use the 4 and 2 method to calculate turn and river odds. Multiply your out, 2, by 4 which will yield 8% to catch your set on the turn. Then multiply 2 by 2 to get your result of 4% to improve on the river.

I would recommend you do some research about calculations online to help determine the other variations that you’re looking for.

Chances of Hitting

Hi,

I’m wondering if what are the odds for the over cards hitting again, any idea? And before preflop, how do you figure them out? Well I do know that there’s a 6 out of 47 and 6 out of 46 percent chance of hitting on the turn and river, however how do you calculate for all three cards of the flop? Your thoughts please.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Jeffrey Green
Jeffrey,

The odds of your overcards hitting the flop are 2 to 1 against. To calculate this, deduct the number of cards in your hand and all the aces and king remaining in the deck. The flops that can be dealt that miss your hand is C(44,3). The percentage of flops you won’t pair is C(44,3)/C(50,3), or about 67%, which is 2:1 once converted into odds.

On Pocket Aces

Hello,

Well I guess all of us know the feeling when you go all in preflop only for someone to call and turn over bullets. I myself even saw them beaten for several times. Because of this, I wanted to find out what the probability of overturning them is. For this, kindly consider the following scenario:

AA vs AKs
AA vs KK
AA vs KQs

I badly need to hear your thoughts or opinion. Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Joey
Joey,

Kings win against Aces 19% of the time. A-K offsuit wins 7% of the time. A-K suited 12% of the time. K-Q suited is 18% of the time.

The only way to turn this around is to keep playing. You will lose sometimes with Aces. I did so just last night. I had a 3 way all in. I had Aces, an opponent had Kings, and the third person had A-10 suited. A 10 on the flop and turn ended my day.

Pocket 8′s Against Ace King

Hello,

Last night, I played with some friends. At some point I wagered against one of my friends. Back then I had pocket 8′s and then went all in. Four players were in the hand before the flop. After a while my friend called me with Ace King offsuit. I then said that I had made a good decision for as long as nobody had pockets most likely I would win. On the contrary, my friend said that Ace King was favored in our game. Who do you think is right?

Hope to hear from you soon!

Many thanks,
Kent
Kent,

Pocket eights are 55% to 44% to win against A-K offsuit. You are right, but it really is just a glorified coin flip. If the A-K was suited, you were only 52% to 48% to win.

Equations on Pot Odds

Hi,

Thanks for your quick response last time. Now I believe I have already figured out the equivalent to your examples of figuring out pot odds:

The equation for finding pot odds based off the pot value is:
(100 * Bet Amount) / %Chance to Hit < Pot Value

The equation for finding pot odds based off the bet amount is:
(%Chance to Hit * Pot Value) / 100 > Bet Amount

For me, the first equation is easier to calculate than the second but actually works tougher in no limit against limit as bets could be any odd number. Second equation is actually harder to compute however works better in no limit.

Anything to say or comment about my equations? I hope I make sense here.

I’ll be looking forward for your response. Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Tim
Tim,

I am not a math expert, but if this calculation is producing the desired result in your game, by all means use it. Use whatever advantage you can to help your win ethically.

About Expected Value

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your immediate response last time. I have again some questions to ask. I hope you don’t mind.

First, what is expected value? Second, how do you calculate your expected value and if +/-? Third and last one, how relevant is such concept in no limit holdem?

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Jimmy
Jimmy,

Expected value is a number that describes the results of a number of actions. It is an average determining what should happen if a certain condition repeats itself. To calculate it you compare your mathematical chances or winning and losing over a particular set of attempts.

Poker is fluid and situational. People that are into EV are basically trying to make an assumption based on the past. The bad part about this assumption is that poker is not static. It changes constantly. While many variables repeat often, many do not. I don’t put a lot of stock into EV for No Limit.

More On Odds

Hello,

Many people talk about odd and implied odds. Honestly, I don’t know how they arrived at their figures. And I don’t know of anyone who has taken into consideration cards that were already dealt but were dead.

Well, I know this has no scientific basis and was only based on 100 hands dealt, however I pulled 2 nines out of a deck to represent my hand, then randomly dealt 16 cards to represent 8 players who folded their cards,leaving my hand to go heads up against the 10th player.
45% of the time….no nines dealt.
35% of the time….1 nine was dealt.
20% of the time….2 nines were dealt.

I believe it’s the same thing with flushes and straights. Anyway, I wonder how can percentages or probabilities be close to being true or accurate without all the information available, any idea?

Your thoughts please.

Thank you in advance!

Warm regards,
Anthony
Anthony,

They are odds. They are probabilities. They are not scientific fact. You base calculations on unseen cards and the potential cards. It would be more accurate with more information, but since that is not possible, you have to go with the best calculation to give you the best approximation.

Calculating Odds

Well, I already quite understand how odds are calculated. Just one thing hinders me for fully understanding it. When you’re playing with 3 other players, how do you consider your outs? In case you have pocket jacks, you may find it hard to calculate as somebody else at the table may have your jack. When during a game, how do you survive this?

Thanks in advance!

Kirby
Kirby,

You don’t worry about this. You go by the cards that are unseen. While it may be true that one of the players holds the cards, you go by cards unseen to make calculations.

Hand Strength Percentages

Hello,

Just want to ask if what’s the percentage of hands won by the following -100 hands:

flush ex- 10%
straight ex- 12%
full house ex 5%
3 of a kind ex 7%
2 pair ex 35%
1 pair ex 25%
high card ex 3%
straight flush ex 1%
royal flush ex 1%
4 of a kind ex 1%

Any thoughts?

Many thanks,
Albert
Albert,

This looks about right and normal. Two pair is the average winning hand in Holdem. Straight flushes and royal flushes I would say is a little less than 1% of the time.

How Important Are Pot Odds?

Yesterday I was in a friendly tourney. Something came up. Right after I mucked my straight flush draw on the river based on pot odds and saw the card I needed, I started to think if pots odds are really that important in a tourney ever since. Your thoughts on this?

In ring games I know pot odds are significant in case you want to play with probabilities and make them play in your advantage.

By the way, if I may just share this, I lost AAA once to a guy who called my all-in with lesser chips and with a straight draw on the river. He needed a 9 and then that was it, he got A 9 on the river. Was he just lucky then?

Thank you very much!

Regards,
Turner
Turner,

Pot odds are very important in tournaments. A lot of times it makes the difference in calling an all-in for your tournament life and folding.

In regards to the A-9 hand, he was just lucky. On the flop, he had 16% to win and on the turn he only had 8% to win.

4/2 Rule

Hello,

Say you are at a full table with 9 other players. Then there are 20 cards dealt, 1 is burned and flop 3 is dealt. You actually have AK when flop appears, K 9 2. You have 5 outs ( A,A, A K K) Based on the 4/2 rule, there would be a 20% (4 x 5) possibility for the turn and 10% (2 x 5) for the river. But I wonder, should the 24 cards that were initially bet be considered?

Thanks and more power!

Warm regards,
Jones
Jones,

When using the 4/2 rule, you don’t worry about cards you see or that have been dealt. This is a simplified pot odds method to use that doesn’t require high math competency to use.

Heads Up Odds

Hi,

Just recently, I had an argument with a certain guy online. Well, he went all in with Queens and had two callers who created a side pot. Back then, I had AJ. There was another guy but I don’t know what he had then as he folded earlier. At some point, I had running Aces on the turn and river to win the hand. He then started complaining about my luckiness. I told him afterwards that Queens was not a mortal lock as long as I had one overcard and straight potential. And that with two callers, he was actually the favorite but also the overall dog.

I’ve been watching WSOP for some time now and from it I’ve learned a few things. The most important thing I guess is the one about when a pair against two overcards is a 53% favorite head’s up; the higher of two pairs is an 80% favorite head-to-head.

Anyway, guy who hosted the house game said I played the worst starting hand (72) against the best (AA) which will win about 12% of the time. Your thoughts?

On a side note, what are the odds of QQ against AJ as outlined above? I think the answer would be around 65%.

Thank you in advance!

Best regards,
Tyler
Tyler,

Pocket queens are 71% against A-J. 7-2 offsuit will indeed beat A-A 12% of the time. You were incorrect with him being an overall underdog with two callers. Actually, with 2 callers, he becomes more of a favorite over you depending on the hand. His win percentage is lowered, but so is everyone elses.

As far as your hand, you were fortunate to win, but heads-up both of the hands were very strong. He is just upset you won.

Odds and Number of Players

Hello,

I know that the odds on seeing a hand may be similar in various games. But how about in Draw vs. Holdem?

Last night I was in a game. At some point I saw a royal along with some players, more or less 5. Do you think there’s a better or worse chance to see a royal flush on the table with more or less players? Well, for some, the more players, the more chances to see a royal as more cards are actually in play. But for those who are mathematically inclined, number of players doesn’t matter, the odds of seeing a royal flush still the same whether there are 10 or 2 players. Any thoughts?

Thanks a ton!

Best regards,
Tristan
Tristan,

When you say on the table, do you mean on the board or do you mean with one of the players having the hand complete it? My guess is the latter. I would say that the odds to see a royal will increase with more players in the hand, if a royal is possible, but also it depends on how many of the cards are on the board. I think that if it requires two cards from the player, the odds probably stay the same. They would go up, if there were 4 to the royal on board.

Odds of Winning

Hello,

Say in a heads up play players involve are all in preflop and one has AA and the other one has AQ unsuited, what do you think will the odds of winning be?

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,
Chubz
Chubz,

The player with A-A is a 92% favorite over A-Q unsuited. A-Q has a 7% chance to win.

Adjusting Game and Quick Calculation Method of Odds

Hello,

Before, I’m actually into hosting of home tournaments which typically with 40-50 players. Buy in then was around $50, therefore I’ve only accepted players who belonged to average to good category. But just recently, I decided to have some friends over to play in small 10-12 people $20 buy-in tournaments. Unfortunately I was busted out in most of those games so quick. I believe my problem then was about adjusting. I found it hard to adjust my game to the table. Maybe one factor to consider is that I’ve been so use to playing with good players, by which my situational bluffs work. Your thoughts?

By the way, I also want to share to you something. One guy once taught me how to calculate hand odds quickly. According to him all I have to do is this – (outs *2) + 1 = percentage. Therefore if you have 8 outs (open ended straight draw) then (8 * 2) + 1 = 17%. But recently I saw that you showed such at 34%. Well, I know that you’re calculating hitting the hand by the river (2 draws). In the event there was a flush potential also then 8 (open ender cards) + 9 (flush cards remaining) – 2 (remove the 2 flush cards that also complete your straight…. 8 added) = 15 outs or 31%.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Kirk
Kirk,

When you play with bad players, bluffs will not work that well. You will need to either tighten up and play solid poker or play small ball and crush your opponents when you flop well.

Your calculation for hand odds is a good one, but to figure out from the flop, multiply your calculation by 2. 15 outs on the flop has around a 62% chance to win with your formula.

About Flush

Hi,

I don’t know why but it seems to me that drawing for a flush fails more often that I expect. Well, I know that I should also consider that the other players or burn cards are of my suit. For example, I hold two hearts and two hearts come on the flop. In reality, it’s 9 outs for me with two shots to get those outs. And if I will base it on the probability chart, there’ll be a 39% chance to complete. If in quick method, 9 outs * 2 opportunities = 18 * 2 + 1 = 37%. More or less, I’ll call a decent number of bets with a 1:3 chance of a flush.

However, what if there are 8 other players at the table and every player is holding two hole cards, so that would be 16 cards, which probability tells me means 4 hearts? Do you think I should just consider that there are only 5 outs? If so then there’ll be 21% chance, 1:5. Calling will not be a good idea then.

Hope to hear from you in no time.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Dennis Martin
Dennis,

You don’t take into consideration other players when calculating your odds. Logic would dictate that you should, but in reality you do not. You go with your nine outs.

Pot Odds and the Cost to See Fourth Street

Hi,

I actually have two questions to ask but before I lay them down let me first share a bit of myself and my poker experience. Well, I am a beginner who play for small amounts with other couples. For the last 6 months, I’ve played online and lost for many times. The bad beats just actually ended when I started following your advices, tips, etc. Thanks to you!

Now here are my questions:

1. How do you quickly figure how much is in the pot when figuring pot odds? Do you normally keep track of it as you go or just make an estimation when it is already your time to make a move?
2. Say I have Ace 8 h and the flop is queen h 5h 3d. Then my outs are 9 h’s and 3 aces for a total of 12 outs. Later to hit 4th street I have around 24% chance and to the river I have around 48%. At such point, pot size is $100 and for me to stay it will cost me $25 or less. But I wonder, what if it will cost me $75 to stay to see 4th street? Will it be worth it?

Thanks in advance!

Warm regards,
James
James,

1. You need to either track it yourself or get good at estimating the pot size by sight.
   
2. A $75 bet is 42% of the pot. Since you have a 48% chance on the flop to hit your hand by the river, you have odds and should call.

With Losing Hands

Hi,

I’m here to ask this, how will you know you have the best hand? Recently I played online and had KQs. Well, it was a 1$ big blind table. At the position before the button, there were no raises preflop therefore I just raised 1$. Players who were in the hand called. Flop then came and brought 333. Checks all around followed. After a while turn came and brought Q, it then checked all around. River came and was K. It later checked around to me therefore I decided to place 5$ bet. Everyone else then folded except for one player who re-raised me 15$. I then called with the thought that everything was just a bluff. He then showed me K3 off suit and immediately taken down the pot.

Now as I try to analyze things up I can’t afford not to think that I maybe have misplayed the hand. Also, I’ve read in books and websites that “If the pot is laying you 6:1 and your no worse than that to win it, make the call”. But I don’t know how can I ascertain if I’m 6:1 to win the hand or not.

The other day I’ve seen plenty of examples on your odds of making a draw or improving your hand, but I wonder, what if you’re not drawing to the Nuts, how can you tell what your winning odds are?

Please I need your help. Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Tommy
Tommy,

First, that was a split pot. Both of you had three’s full of kings.

Next to determine whether your worse than 6 to 1 to win, when you 6 to1, you are around 17% to win the hand. If you are on the flop, figure out the number of outs to win the hand. Multiply it by 4. This will give you your percentage to win the hand by the river. If it is greater or equal to 17, then you are better than 6 to 1. On the turn, calculate your outs by 2 to get the percentage. If you are equal or better than 17% to hit your hand, then you are better than 6 to 1.

4/2 Rule and KsTs

Hi,

First, I want to congratulate you for having this site. Congrats and keep up the good work!

Well, I’m actually here to ask something. A certain guy said something about the 4/2 rule for assessing odds on hands to me before but unfortunately didn’t understand well what he meant. Do you have any idea about such rule?

Another thing, say you have KsTs, all called and you have one guy raised, how strong is the hand then, particularly when you have 5-8 players?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Richard
Richard,

The 4-2 rule is used in determining what your percentage is to make your hand by the river. On the flop, you count your number of outs and multiply by 4. If you have 9 outs, you have a 36% chance to hit your hand by the river. If you are on the turn, you multiply your outs by 2. In the same scenario, you have an 18% chance to win.

Ks-Ts in a 5 handed pot is not very strong. It is likely behind. Without more information on the hand, I am unable to give specific percentages.

Turn or River Odds

Hello,

Once in a certain material I encountered this line: “For figuring out odds for a draw that can hit on either the turn or the river (keyword either), you need to do something a little more complicated — you figure out what the odds are of not hitting it and the subtracting that number by 1. Since 5 cards give us our hand, there must be 42 that don’t. Then on the river if we haven’t hit there must be 41 cards that don’t make our hand. 42/47 * 41/46. This gives us 795, now subtract that from 1 to get the percentage of 20%. Flop to River % = 1 – [ ((47 - Outs) / 47) * ((46 - Outs) / 46) ]”. Can you please explain this to me a little more?

I’ll be looking forward for your response.

Many thanks,
Jason
Jason,

Make is simple on yourself. When you are at the flop, figure out the number of cards that you perceive as your outs and multiply that by 4. This will give you the percentage to hit your hand on the flop. At the turn, multiply your outs by 2. This will give your percentage to hit your hand.

JJ Against AQ

Hi,

I played poker last night with some friends. At some point of the game an argument came up. First I said that a pair of jacks is a better starting hand than A/Q. A friend of mine then said that A/Q has a higher winning percentage than the pair of jacks. Who do you think is right?

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Franco
Franco,

Pocket jacks are a 54% to 46% favorite when the A-Q is suited. It changes to 57% to 4% when the A-Q is unsuited. The Jacks are the better hand, but your still nearly a coinflip to win.

Outs and What Cards to Play

Hi,

I have two questions. I hope you’re not too busy.

Well, the first one is about the many things about “outs”. In your own opinion, is it better to have more or less outs? And when playing an off suit hand like A,9, are there actually only 6 possible outs?

For my second question which is actually about what cards to play, say I get dealt A,9 suited and I feel that hand is worth playing and I can make the highest flush though I can only make a one card straight, what do you think I should do?

I’ll be glad to hear from you in no time.

Thanks a ton!

Warm regards,
Jake
Jake,

The more outs you have the better off you are. In regards to A-9 suited, this is either a late position hand or a hand to see a cheap flop with, especially in the blinds. I wouldn’t go crazy with this hand unless I am short stacked in a tournament.

Considering the Odds

Hello,

I’m here to ask something. Well, it’s about the decisions I made before which were actually based on pot odds, implied odds, and hand odds. I’ve read a lot of materials before and everything seemed to tell me that if you have the pot odds or the implied odds, you should call, even if you know you are behind, as if you hit you’ll be getting a good return on your investment. In case you don’t have the odds to call, against a drawing hand, you should fold. But then I ask myself, what if you have excellent pot odds, will this call for a raise?

Thanks for your time.

Best regards,
Andrew
Andrew,

While you may have excellent odds, they are still odds, they are not a sure thing. I would shy away from raising. While you may hit and win a bigger pot, if you miss, you will lose much more. You also set yourself up to let the person raise to a point where you don’t have odds.

Last Card Called as the River

Hello,

I don’t understand why the last card is called the river. Do you have any idea on this?

I hope to hear from you in no time.

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Jester
Jester,

The best answer I can find is that the game originated on riverboats and that is one reason.

Texas Holdem Pot Odds

Hi,

Say there are 4 players in a hand and after the flop I’m on the button. Then small blind bets and everyone else calls. Do you think I need to calculate their bets into the pot size? For an instance, pot size $7, 1pl bet $3, 2pl call $3, and 3pl call $3. If in case I have 19% to hit my flush, do you think I have to add up the pot size with the bets behind me to calculate pot odds? If so, will it be 7 + 3 / 3 = 3/10 =30%? How about 16+3/3=3/19 = 15.7%? Your thoughts please.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Victor
Victor,

You need to include all the money in the pot from all players to calculate your pot odds. It would be Size of Pot/Your call=Percentage of pot. In your case 16/3=.1875 or 18.75%. You can round this up to 19% if you so desire. You have the exact minimum you need to call this bet.

Preflop Starting Hands Odds

Hi,

For 18 months now, I’ve been playing holdem and been reading some helpful books. Good thing now is, I can already calculate pot odds after the flop, turn, and river. However, I still have no idea how to calculate odds before the flop. Any idea?

Say I was dealt KQs and then raised on the button and consequently was re-raised. Do you think in case I put my opponent on AA, I’d be a 2-1 or 3-1 dog? I haven’t found any chart on this.

Another thing, how much of a dog is 7-2 vs. AA 10-1 etc.? Your thoughts please.

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Lloyd
Lloyd,

Pocket Aces are an 87% to 12% favorite over 7-2. That’s around a 7.25 to 1 underdog. The best thing would be to get a preflop odds calculator or draw up a chart of common hands. Many odds calculators can be found online.

Winning Hand

Hi there!

I just want to know if what’s the average winning hand strength in a ten player holdem game. Do you have any idea on this?

Say you played 10,000 hands and all ten people stayed in each hand, do you think the average winning hand be two pair or three of a kind?

Similar from the one above, what’s the average winning hand for a game where 5 players played all the way?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Alex
Alex,

The average winning hand for a ten handed game is two pair.

Although I haven’t ran the stats personally, I would assume that 2 pair would also hold true as the average winning hand for a five handed game as well. I do expect that a single pair will move up some in percentages. The reduction in the number of players will alter the numbers some, but I doubt it would change it very significantly.

Hand Percentages

Hi,

For once I used the 2/4 rule about post-flop percentages and it really helped me. But now I want to know if there is a short-cut way to calculate winning percentages pre-flop, what do you think?

Just recently I discovered that there are instances that multiplying your outs by 8 works. However at times, it seems not to work that much. For example, when you have a pocket pair vs. an over- and under-card (QQ vs. AJ). Well, I understand that there are some factors to consider first. For the most part, percentages are usually close. Your thoughts please.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Chester
Chester,

Invest in an odds calculator or create a chart to memorize preflop odds. Preflop is less about calculating odds as it is picking strong starting hands in proper position. If you need odds calculations to determine to play a particular starting hand, then you should probably fold.

Burning Cards and Odds of Hitting

Hi,

I play every week along with some friends. In one of our recent games, we had a debate, a misunderstanding. Well in our group, we do not burn cards to avoid dealing errors and of course to speed up the game. Everyone knows this. However, one guy just joined in and said that if you burn cards you decrease the odds of possibly hitting what you need, as there are less cards left in the deck. For an instance, if you have a pair KK and there are 4 players, then there are 44 cards left in the deck before the flop. In case a card is burnt, deck decreases to 43 before you flop.

I don’t actually agree with what the guy said. I know the number of unknown cards is still set at 44 and even if you burned 5 cards, the odds of you hitting would still be the same as random cards selected to the flop are still up. I believe burning cards changes the result but not the odds of hitting. Thoughts on this?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Vinze
Vinze,

You are right. Burning cards do not change the odds of hitting your hand. Odds are calculated based on the number of unseen cards. Burned cards make no difference. They are still unseen cards. You don’t know what cards you are burning so taking them out the equation will skew the results.

Pot Odds Problems

Hi,

I was in a certain event just last night. I’ve got 8,10 clubs and the flop was 9,J,4 rainbow therefore I flopped the open ender. Then I called $5 to see the turn but don’t hit. After a while, a particular player placed a bet with two others behind me. At such point, pot was $72. I then considered that because I only had 1 card to go, with 8 outs, I had roughly 16% chance of hitting the river and would probably cost me $10 for the $72 pot, 7:1 on my bet. I immediately folded.

I don’t know why but I thought afterwards that if $82 was in and it would cost me $10 to call the river, then that would be 8:1 on my money. If I have the same 16% chance to hit, it seems that it’s just right to call.

For some time now, I’ve been playing and it seems that I’m always drawing whenever I flopped an open ended straight or 4 to the flush, w/out calculating odds. I’m having problems with gutshot sometimes. Well, I understand that if you have a gutshot on the flop you have a 1/11 chance of hitting. But what if you are playing $3/6, how much should be in the pot for you to call $3 for the gutshot? I guess $33. And how about if have 8 outs, does this mean I have a 1/4 chance on the river? When playing in a low limit game, how strongly should implied odds be considered?

Do you think I’m just missing something? I think I should try to read more tips, situational problems, etc.

Thanks for your time.

Warm regards,
Johnny
Johnny,

In your first example, you actually had odds to call. You had a call equal to 13.8% of the pot and a 16% chance to hit your hand. You should have called.

When figuring out pot odds, if your call is a low percentage of the pot than your percentage to hit your hand, then you need to make the call.

As far as calling $3 for a gutshot draw. On the flop there should be at least $19 in the pot for you to call $3.

Implied odds should not be a concern in Limit Holdem. NL holdem is a better use for Implied odds.

Pot Odds Equation

Hi there!

I saw one comment that appeared as:

x = his bet
x/(pot + x) = your % of winning
x/(100 + x) = your % of winning
x/(100 + x) = .48
x = 48 + .48x
.52x = 48
x = 92

With utmost respect, if I may just say, I think this one may be better:

2X/(pot+2X)=your%winning …

Your thoughts? By the way, I don’t mean to offend you. I’m just suggesting.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Frank
Frank,

I personally prefer the 4/2 method of calculating pot odds. It’s the simplest and quickest method to calculate odds. However, if this equation works for you, then by all means use it. Good luck to you.

Being Pot Committed

Hello,

First, I would like to commend you for this wonderful site. It has been a great help to me and to many others as well. Thanks a lot!

Now for my question, how will you know that you are already pot committed? I often hear the line “He had to call the all in bet because he was pot committed”. I’m clueless on this.

Glad to hear from you in no time.

Thanks again!

Regards,
Rafael
Rafael,

Being pot committed means that you have so much money committed to the pot already that it would be a mathematical error to fold to another bet. This is more common in tournaments when someone is facing an all in or facing a big pot short stacked.