Caculation of the odds of improving your hand

As play progresses in a Texas-Holdem game the player will be faced with having to evaluate the odds of his current cards being held improving to a winning hand. This involves some basic arithmetic calculations. Count the number of cards not exposed which would turn your incomplete poker hand into a hand which you would expect to be a winner. You then multiply this number by the remaining empty card positions left on the table. For the percentage that you will receive this card, double this number.

For example: Your hand has J-J, the flop is K-7-10, with the turn and river to come. The odds of receiving another J is 2 cards times 2 positions times 2 or 8% of the time. Looking at it the other way you will lose 92% of the time if you determine you will need a set to win. If you suspect another player has a K or two pair, you may want to fold.

For example: Your hand has A, 3 of hearts, the flop is 7, 10 of hearts and 6 of clubs with the turn and river to come. The odds of receiving another heart is 10 cards times 2 positions times 2 or 40% of the time or looking at it the other way you will lose 60% of the time. If the money in the pot is over 1.5 times (60/40) the money you will be required to bet to see the turn you should pay to see the turn. If no heart shows then the odds of seeing a heart on the river are 10 cards times 1 position times 2 or 20% of the time. In this case if the money in the pot is 4 times (80/20) the bet required to complete the hand, you should play.

Evaluation of what is required for your hand to become a winner is critical to the decision of whether to continue with the play or not. If there is a potential flush on the board and your hand will only improve to two pair orthree of a kind, your worst case would be to complete your hand and lose the pot. The only worse thing than drawing dead is drawing dead and getting it.