When it comes to calculating poker odds, math is your best friend. For those of you who aren’t handy with algebra, you do have the option of simply memorizing the odds for different hands. If you want to be a great poker player, however, and are able to handle anything that comes at you without a moment’s hesitation, then learning a little bit of the algebra behind calculating poker odds is the best thing you can do.

Hand Odds

Hand odds – The chance of you making a particular hand in poker. Example: If you have two spades in your hand and there are two spades on the flop, then your hand odds for getting that flush are 2:1. For every 3 times that this hand comes up for you, you will get your flush once. If the odds are 3:1 then you would get your hand once every four times it came around.

To calculate hand odds, use the following formula:

X to 1 odds = you get your hand once every (X + 1) times

OR

X to 1 odds = 1/ (X + 1) = % chance of getting your hand

This translates to, for example:

3 to 1 odds = 1/ 4 = 25% chance of getting your hand

Here are your odds of hitting an out by the river:

Outs Flop% Turn% Flop Odds Turn Odds Draw Type

2 8% 4% 12 22 Pocket Pair - Set

3 13% 7% 7 14 Single Overcard Draw

4 17% 9% 5 10 Gut Shot, Two Pair - Full House

5 20% 11% 4 8 One Pair - Two Pair or Set

6 24% 13% 3.2 6.7 No Pair - Pair, Two Overcard

Draw

7 28% 15% 2.6 5.6 Set - Full House

8 32% 17% 2.2 4.7 Open Straight Draw

9 35% 19% 1.9 4.1 Flush Draw, Open+Backdoor

Draw

10 38% 22% 1.6 3.6

11 42% 24% 1.4 3.2

12 45% 26% 1.2 2.8 Flush+Gut Draw

13 48% 28% 1.1 2.5

14 51% 30% 0.95 2.3

15 54% 33% 0.85 2.1 Flush+Open Draw

16 57% 34% 0.75 1.9 Flush+Open+One Overcard

17 60% 37% 0.66 1.7

How many outs does your hand have? This is your first consideration. Outs are the cards in the deck that help you create a hand. There are thirteen cards in each suit. If you hold two of them and two more are on the flop, then you have nine outs to get your flush.

These are just the beginning considerations for hand odds in poker. Your adventure in calculating poker odds has only just begun!