Poker town
Survival Odds
Like it or not, odds are at the bottom of almost everything gambling-related. Every game and every bet has its own odds, and it’s very important for players to have at least a basic understanding of the odds they face when they decide to gamble.
First, however, it’s important to define what we mean by “odds.” You’ve got Overall Odds, which are the numbers you can memorize to determine the likelihood of a specific hand coming up, or not coming up, in a game of poker. These odds are useful when you play a lot of poker, and knowing them will give you valuable time (and a lot less uncertainty) when the game is on the line. On the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, you’ve got what we like to call “survival odds.” These are the odds that are specific to the hand you’re holding and, more importantly, these are the ones every poker player MUST get used to calculating on the spot.
The downside of survival odds is that, yes, they take some work. You have to do math. But the alternative is also a kind of math—it’s called “subtraction.” If you don’t know how to calculate survival odds, you’ll soon have to get used to money flowing right out of that account of yours. It’s much wiser to read this section carefully and become familiar with the two main forms of survival odds: outs and pot odds. We hate to say it, but your poker life hangs in the balance!
Outs – Thinking about outs is one of the first things that will turn a horrible poker player into a decent poker player. It’s a simple fact of life. If you don’t know how to help yourself get ahead, how do you expect to win a game of poker? Click on this link to inform yourself now…
Pot Odds – Once you’ve looked at the section above, you’re halfway finished with learning the imperative info of survival odds. You’ve got the tools to take you into the later stages of the game, but you still need to know if the bet you’re making is worth the risk. Click on this section for a straight, numeric answer to the question of “Is it worth it?”…
