Probability and odds are huge factors in Texas hold ‘em. They are an integral part of determining how we will act at any given stage in any particular hand. The chances of finishing a flush or a straight, the probability of hitting an over card, the percentage of times we’re going to flop a set to match our pocket pair…these are all typical situations we’re bound to face at the felt.   How we react to them demands an understanding of how to calculate poker odds.

Read the rest of this entry

People consistently get stuck on the concept of understanding pot odds. Irrespective of whether we ‘play the player or the cards’ there invariably come times in poker where we get put to a tough decision, and will be forced to consider pot odds when making our call…or fold, as the case may be. So how can we go about calculating pot odds and using those odds to make the right decision… without getting too caught up in poker mathematics?

Read the rest of this entry