Learning the proper odds

[ScottC]

I'll admit it: I need to get better at calculating odds. I don't think I had the right odds for the final call on this hand, and would appreciate any comments. Feel free to comment on pre-flop and flop bets (should I have taken a free card for the turn? I prefer to be the aggressor.).

And please refer me to a book or website that fully explains the theory of odds. I'm no dummy, but I need a whole understanding, not just examples, particularly with odds of making it through both turn and river. (Theory of Poker, is that the best? Browsed it but haven't bought it yet.)

Here's the hand, in 1/2 NL, betting reduced me and sb pre-flop, almost equal stacks:

sb $1.00 QcQd
bb $2.00
me $10.00 Ah8h in cutoff position
sb $9.00
bb folds
pot at flop: $22.00

Flop: 6s 6h 3h My Outs: 9 h's and 3 A for 12 total

sb $checks
me $30.00 -- a semi-steal/semi-bluff that asks "Do you or do you not have a hand?"
sb $70.00 -- "Yes, I do have a hand," but the size of his bet convinces me my A is probably an overcard -- I think he should have bet stronger here, more like $100
decision point pot: $122.00

70 call for 192 total return = 2.7 to 1, and my odds of making it on the next card are 4 to 1, but implied odds much higher, and odds of making it over two cards more like 2 to 1? This is the most difficult part for me

me $70.00 call
pot at turn: $192.00

Turn: 9c

sb $116.00

Call puts me all-in, he essentially all-in (except for $2). Call would bring pot to 308, giving me 2.65 to 1 with 12 outs -- are the odds right to call here?

I called and busted out. I felt good that my read was right (that I did have 12 outs), but am I right in calculating the odds of making my hand at 3.8 to 1, so the 2.65 to 1 odds gave me the worst of it? Of course with all-in, there are no more implied odds.

I think emotion clouded my decision making at the end here and I took an all or nothing mentality.

thanks in advance

[tewall]

Ciaffone and Stewart's book on Big Bet poker is a good book. I think it would help you.

Here's a helpful approximation for calculating odds. Multiply the # of outs by 2 time the number of rounds remaining to get a pct. For example, if you have 12 outs, on the turn there's 1 round left, so that's approx. 24%. If it were on the flop that would be approx. 48%. That's close enough for practical purposes, and easy to do.

[ScottC]

If I reply to this, does it "bump" it to the top of the list?

I'd like to hear more people's feedback on this hand.

Thanks.

[The Dude]

Theory of Poker is a must read, whatever form of poker you intend on playing. It will walk you through every step of pot odds and implied odds.