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Play by Play - Pot Odds

Play by Play - Pot Odds

Determining the pot odds is crucial to deciding whether making the call is right or not. It is correct to chase a hand only if the pot odds justify the play. Below you'll see an example of playing a draw hand with many outs, and how the probabilities justify calling a bet:


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Hand #X-X at X (No Limit Hold'em)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 26/Nov/03 17:31:18

The button is at seat 3.

Player4 posts the small blind of $.10.
Player5 posts the big blind of $.25.

Player0: -- --
Flop Turn River: 9s 7s
Player3: -- --
Player4: -- --
Player5: -- --
Player6: -- --
Player7: -- --
Player8: -- --
Player9: -- --

Pre-flop:

Player6 calls. Player7 calls. Player8 raises
to $.50. Player9 folds. Player0 folds.
Flop Turn River calls. Player3 calls. Player4 calls.
Player5 folds. Player6 calls. Player7 calls.
*In this hand I play 97 suited in late position. I don't often play this hand, but I felt the table was pretty loose/passive, so I gave it a shot.

Flop (board: Th 5d 8s):
*The flop gives me an open-ended straight draw. The table checks to me, so I figure this is an ideal situation to attempt a semi-bluff, I have only one player to my left to beat. I bet $2 hoping that everyone folds. Yet, if they do not, I hope to hit one of my 8 outs (four sevens or four jacks).

Player4 checks. Player6 checks. Player7 checks.
Player8 checks. Flop Turn River bets $2. Player3 folds.
Player4 folds. Player6 folds. Player7 folds.
Player8 calls.
*I bet $2 on my semi-bluff, unfortunately I have one caller.

Turn (board: Th 5d 8s 3s):
*The turn does not complete my straight, however I now have a flush draw as well. I try for one more semi-bluff, hoping to win the pot right here.

Player8 checks. Flop Turn River bets $2.25.
Player8 goes all-in for $5.55. Flop Turn River calls.
*I bet $2.25 this time, and Player8 re-raises me $3.30 and goes All-in. Uh-oh. Now it's time to calculate the pot odds. The pot is currently at $15.05. I have to include my opening bet into the pot because I can't take it back. So, I am looking at calling a $3.30 bet to win a pot of $15.05. I put my opponent on two pair, and figure my total number of outs have risen to 15 - I can hit either a spade, 6, or Jack to win this pot in my estimation. With one card coming, I have a 32.6% chance of hitting my card. The bet compared to the pot, $3.30/$15.05 = 22%, so I'm getting great odds to make this call. Of course, I'm not using a calculator to figure this out while I'm playing, but I do make the estimates in my head and recognize that I'm getting good odds to make the call, so I call it.

River (board: Th 5d 8s 3s Js):

(no action in this round)
*I hit a spade that completes my flush. (It's also a Jack that completes my straight!)

Showdown:

Player8 shows 8d 8c.
Player8 has 8d 8c Th 8s Js: three eights.
Flop Turn River shows 9s 7s.
Flop Turn River has 9s 7s 8s 3s Js: flush, jack high.
*I win the pot by making the right call. Player8 actually flopped trips. But she gave me too many opportunities to make my hand. If she would have re-raised me big after the flop (or even pre-flop!), I would have given the hand up (assuming I did not have the right pot odds!).

Hand #608930-11462 Summary:

$.90 is raked from a pot of $18.35.
Flop Turn River wins $17.45 with flush, jack high.
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