Pot odds are the price you’re getting to call: the ratio of the total pot to the amount you must call. They tell you the minimum equity your hand needs to make calling break even.
To use pot odds, convert them to the equity you need with the formula call ÷ (pot after your call). If that break-even percentage is below your hand’s equity, calling is profitable; if it’s above, you should fold (barring implied odds).
Bigger bets lay worse pot odds and demand more equity to continue, which is exactly why aggressors size up to deny draws a correct call. Pot odds are the foundation every other postflop defense concept — MDF, bluff-catching, drawing — is built on.
The most common mistake is forgetting villain’s bet when you count the pot. ‘Call 6 to win 6’ looks like a 50% price, but the real pot after your call is 6 + 6 + 6 = 18, and the break-even point is 33%. The same arithmetic gives the three sizes worth memorising: a pot-sized bet asks for 33%, a half-pot bet for 25% and a one-third-pot bet for 20%. Equity is the other half of the comparison — with a draw, count your outs and use about 2% per out for one card and about 4% per out for two.
Worked example
FAQ
How do you calculate pot odds quickly?
Divide the call by the final pot (pot + all bets + your call). That percentage is the equity you need. Calling 40 into a final pot of 160 needs 25%.
What’s the difference between pot odds and equity?
Pot odds are the price of a call; equity is your hand’s share of the pot at showdown. You call when your equity is at least the break-even percentage the pot odds require.