How to calculate pot odds?

[Jack Bando]

There are four things you must know to calc pot odds.

1)What's in the center
2)What has already been bet by others during the round
3)How much you have to put in
4)The odds of your hand taking the lead

2-4 is easy enough to figure out.
But how do you do #1 in a B&M? On-line you just look at the number where the dealer is located. But how does a B&M player look at a pile of chips and figure out how much is there? Estimate? Counting? Remembering every street?

[JordanIB]

At 2/4 I pretty much just count the raw number as it goes. Fairly easy. Sometimes I'll count by BB's, which I assume is much easier to handle as the stakes increase.

[ QUOTE ]
There are four things you must know to calc pot odds.

1)What's in the center
2)What has already been bet by others during the round
3)How much you have to put in
4)The odds of your hand taking the lead

2-4 is easy enough to figure out.
But how do you do #1 in a B&M? On-line you just look at the number where the dealer is located. But how does a B&M player look at a pile of chips and figure out how much is there? Estimate? Counting? Remembering every street?

[/ QUOTE ]

[ckmo]

follow the action....know how many ppl are in the hand...if it was raised pf or not, what kinda of betting has gone on. if you pay attention its not that hard to do at all...focus on the game, not the tvs or cocktail waitresses

[mustardinmyhair]

[ QUOTE ]

But how do you do #1 in a B&M?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're doing a BM it's #2 right? Although sometimes I'll
do both at the same time. It's not that hard.

[TimTimSalabim]

The easiest way is to keep a running tally as you go. If you're playing limit, just count the number of small bets as they go in, then when you get to the turn, divide by 2.

[BoxTree]

Search Feature = Good

[SheridanCat]

Counting is all you need. The dealer will say, when dealing the flop, "x players". You know how many bets you put in, so multiply that number by "x" and you have the pot size in bets. Then, just count the bets. You don't need to convert it to dollars, just think in bets.

Regards,

T

[johnc]

#1 - I just count bets on every street. It's a pain in the butt at first but it gets easier and will become automatic pretty quick.It's also a very good way help keep myself focused on the other players and the action. I know who raised on each street and how much and who reraised or just called. Because I have to look at each player as they bet I can occasionaly pick up tells that I would have missed if I'd been checking out the game on the tube.

#2 - see above