Texas Holdem Poker Odds

Odds are the chance or probability that a given thing will happen. When applied to Texas Holdem poker it is generally the chance you will be dealt a certain starting hand, or the probability that cards you need to improve your hand will come on the Flop, Turn, or River.

Check out our odds pages that are categorized by pre flop starting hand odds, flop odds, flop to river odds, and turn to river odds. For more detailed flop odds you can download our starting hand spreadsheet that will give you flop odds for every hand you can be dealt.

Calculating your odds before or after the flop is just the first step in applying odds in Texas Holdem. Once you know the odds of making a certain hand you should compare those odds against (1) the money in the pot or (2) the money you reasonably believe will be in the pot when the hand is shown down. These two types of odds are called Pot Odds and Implied Odds.

Pot Odds are the odds the pot is giving you to make a certain hand. For example; when your opponent bets $3 into a $9 pot (making the pot $12) the pot is laying you 4 to 1 odds to call the $3 bet. This is derived by dividing the money in the pot by the amount you need to call i.e. 12/3 = 4.

For example; if you have a flush draw on the flop your chance of making a flush by the turn is 19.6% or roughly 4 to 1. To make a profitable call the pot should be giving you odds greater than 4 to 1. So when the pot is $10 and your opponent bets $3 (making the pot $13) you should call with your flush draw because the pot is laying you odds of 4.33 to 1 (and the odds against you making your hand is only 4 to 1). If you were to make this bet 5 times you will (over the long run) lose $3 four times and win $13 once. This play makes you $1 every time you play it over the long run (Expected Value or EV) assuming you never get more money in the pot when you make your flush.

Implied Odds are the odds the EXPECTED pot is giving you to make a certain hand. If you reasonably believe that you can get more money into the pot after making your hand then you should make your calling decision based on the Implied Odds the pot is laying you. Take the example above. If you are able to get your opponent to call $3 on the turn when you make your flush the pot now has an expected value of $16 ($13 on the flop plus $3 on the turn). Which is giving you 5.33 to 1. Therefore you can call a larger amount (like a $4 bet which would be giving you 4:1) with the expectation that your opponent will pay you off when you make your draw.