Pot Equity as opposed to Pot Odds

[vqc]

I understand that Pot Equity is used when determining whether or not to Bet, and Pot Odds are used when determining when to call.

My question is, if i kno that I have a 48% chance of winning or splitting a pot (pot equity), and the opponents bet is only 45% of the pot, doesn't that give me reason to call his bet?

[Demiparadigm]

Yes.

[Demiparadigm]

This is a pot odds question.

Let's say the pot is $10 and you think you will win slightly less than one third of the time with one card to come. As long as your opponent bets any amount less than the pot, it is correct for you to call. If he bets $10, there is now $20 in the pot, and it only costs you $10 to call, so the pot is laying you 2:1 odds. You will make your hand 1 in 3 times, so a call is correct.

Pot equity is an idea Sklansky made up referring to multiple opponents, and is a good indication of whether to raise. If there are 5 players in the pot and you think you again have a 33% chance of winning, This is higher than your 20% "share" so you should raise.

[Fnord]

Then there is folding equity.

If you're in a five way pot, expect to win 20% of the time, but your opponents might all fold if you bet, then you should bet for folding equity.

[koolmoe]

I understand that Pot Equity is used when determining whether or not to Bet, and Pot Odds are used when determining when to call.

My question is, if i kno that I have a 48% chance of winning or splitting a pot (pot equity), and the opponents bet is only 45% of the pot, doesn't that give me reason to call his bet?

If your pot equity is 48%, then you can call almost any bet. You would have to assume that your opponent will bet 13x the current pot by the river to even consider folding.

[vqc]

How does that last calculation work? If my pot equity is 30% how many times the pot would I have to expect my opponent to bet by the river before I would consider folding?

[koolmoe]

How does that last calculation work? If my pot equity is 30% how many times the pot would I have to expect my opponent to bet by the river before I would consider folding?

70:30 are your effective odds, meaning that your opponent would have to bet more than 3/4 of the pot, assuming you're heads up. With three or more opponents, you can raise and make money if you are certain that everyone will call. (Pot would hold P+0.75P and you would have to call 0.75P meaning that the pot would be laying you 1.75P:0.75P which is 7:3)

Pot equity is a much more useful concept in limit, where you can often get the field to help finance a strong draw by raising when you are probably behind but have a large number of outs.

[RiverMonkey]

I understand that Pot Equity is used when determining whether or not to Bet, and Pot Odds are used when determining when to call.

My question is, if i kno that I have a 48% chance of winning or splitting a pot (pot equity), and the opponents bet is only 45% of the pot, doesn't that give me reason to call his bet?

Actually, you can use pot equity to decide on whether to call, fold, or raise. And yes, Fnord mentioned it, don't forget about fold equity as well; infrequently a leveragable concept in lower-limit games (unless you've got some rocks/tighties at your table, then it becomes more important.

[Fnord]

Actually, you can use pot equity to decide on whether to call, fold, or raise. And yes, Fnord mentioned it, don't forget about fold equity as well; infrequently a leveragable concept in lower-limit games (unless you've got some rocks/tighties at your table, then it becomes more important.

Most low limit players will at least fold the turn if they have absolutly nothing. So you do often have fold equity, just not very much.

[jnz]

... if i kno that I have a 48% chance of winning or splitting a pot (pot equity)...

Excuse my noobie-ness, but how could you know your chance of winning a pot?

[Demiparadigm]

You guess.

[Demiparadigm]

There are general guidelines based on what you have and what you think your opponent has.
If you have the flush draw on the flop and you put your opponent on a pair, you are about 35% to win.

If you flop a set and put your opponent on 2 pair, you are about 85% to win.

This comes down to reading hands, determining outs and memorizing odds.

[jmontis]

when it comes down to it, you basically have 4 things to think about that determine whether you fold call or raise

1. preflop information, did he raise, did he limp
2. style of play
3. betting patterns
4. does he play weak hands, does he bluff

there's a million things you could throw in here but using these can save you or possibly earn you quite a bit of money.

[jnz]

Yeah Im familiar with outs, and the chances of making your hand, but just cause you make your draw doesnt mean you will win the pot.

Was just wondering if I had missed something :> Thanks.