Pot Equity Help

[Dave H.]

I've read SSH and a couple of other books and am struggling with the concept of pot equity. Specifically, how is it computed and then, once it is computed, how does one relate it to pot size to determine whether a bet or a call is warranted. I understand the pot odds concept and use it all the time, but I'm starting to see posts where it seems that pot equity is used instead or in conjunction with pot odds and I don't understand.

I imagine an example like AKo with a 9,6,3 rainbow flop could suffice. I'm not sure what other variables need to be added...let's say 5 players, 2 bets each preflop.

Is there such a thing as "fold" equity? What would that be?

Thanx!

[TomCollins]

Pot equity is how much of the pot you are entitled to. To determine this, you must know the other players cards. Suppose you knew, and had a 25% chance of winning against 5 opponents. Here, even though you will usually lose this hand, if you can get 3 or more callers, you should get as much money in as you can. But if you are getting fewer than 3 callers (and have less than 1/n of pot equity), it is not a good bet.

[Dave H.]

Oh my! Now I'm really confused!

Suppose, after the flop, I have a one card draw to the nut flush. Using pot odds, if someone bets, I would simply say to myself that I need a minimum of about 4 small bets in the pot to call at that point, and it would be a no brainer. How would I use pot equity in that example, or can't I??