Pot odds vs Equity - Beginning Poker Questions

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Pot odds vs Equity

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06-21-2018 , 06:51 AM

iggystoned

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 100

Hi guys,

I'm confused about pot odds and equity.

I have AQ of clubs on a board Tc6c3h3d. My opponent, who covers me, shoves my allin of 320 in a 360 pot.

Questions :

1/ I have to call 320 to win 1020. Thats 3.1 to 1. 24% of the pot. Since my equity is 31% (assuming Im against TP for simplicity), is it ok to call? Which number has to be bigger than the other for a correct call?

2/ How to convert mentally pot odds to equity? Do you have a formula? I'm using an online converter but Im willing to learn to do it mentally to train my live ability.

Thanks for your great help,

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06-21-2018 , 08:29 AM

nolispeifaflaatoi

centurion

Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 198

If the pot is 360 and we're facing a bet of 320, our odds are (360+320) to 320, or 2.1 to 1. So we'd actually need 320/(360+320+320) = 32% equity to call, not 24%. In order to call profitably, our equity needs to be bigger than the percentage of the final pot we have to call.

You can calculate approximate pot odds by rounding the numbers and dividing (300 into a pot that will be 1000 -> 300/1000 = 30%). But it's also useful to memorize a few commonly occurring bet sizes - we need 33% equity to call a full-pot bet, 25% to call a half-pot bet etc. In this case we're facing almost a full-pot sized bet so we need slightly less than 33% to call.

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06-21-2018 , 09:23 AM

ArtyMcFly

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 13,256

If the pot is 360 and villain shoves 320, then if you call the pot will be 360+320+320 = 1000.
Since you'd be contributing 320/1000 = 32% of the final pot, you need to win it more often than 32% of the time to make money.

As nolis pointed out, a pot-sized bet requires 33.33% equity to break even, so if the bet is just under pot, you can call with just under 33% equity.

Pot odds and equity are well defined in the FAQ for this forum (at the top of the list of threads). There's also a great series called "Mathenoobics" if you search for it. https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/3...t=mathenoobics

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06-21-2018 , 01:03 PM

antialias

grinder

Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 590

Quote:

Which number has to be bigger than the other for a correct call?

Think of it like this: Equity is the part of the pot that rightfully belongs to you (after you put in the money for the call)
If you need to invest more than you are expected to get out (on average) it's a bad call.

(at face value...of course there's something like implied odds in many cases. Though not if your opponent - or you - are all in at that point)

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06-21-2018 , 02:13 PM

ArtyMcFly

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 13,256

Just think in terms of cake.

"If I call, I get X% of the cake (my equity). Do I have to pay more than X% of the price of a cake? (my contribution to the final pot with the final call)".
If the contribution (cost) is a lower percentage than your equity, then it's +EV. e.g. "I can buy one third of a cake for only 25% of the price of a cake".

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06-21-2018 , 06:56 PM

moxiepilot

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 355

I do love cake. Thanks Arty

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06-22-2018 , 07:42 AM

PokerPlayingGamble

Dispute Unresolved

Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 4,669

You are only calling 320 to win 680. You are getting 2.1:1 and need 32.258% equity. You don't have that against top pair. Even the best case top pair scenario, where all your overs are live, and villain doesn't have a single club, you have just under that. But if villain has you reverse dominated or a club your odds go down. Of course if villain has a draw himself or is just air balling it then you are a massive favourite.

board: Tc6c3h3d
Hand Equity Wins Ties
AcQc 31.82% 14 0
KsTs 68.18% 30 0

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06-22-2018 , 05:32 PM

madlex

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 17,440

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerPlayingGamble

You are only calling 320 to win 680. You are getting 2.1:1 and need 32.258% equity.

Again, you are making a rounding mistake which gives you a weird looking (aka wrong) result instead of doing it the easy way. 320 for a pot of 1000 total is obviously the same as 32 for a pot of 100 which is the definition of “per cent”, a number expressed as a fraction of 100.

It’s obviously an absolutely minor thing, but for people with a background in math/statistics, it’s just an eyesore to see somebody go from 2.1 to 32.258% = 0.32258. Please don’t do that. If you really need to work it out that way, at least use 680/320 = 2.125 and then do 1/(1+2.125) = 1/3.125 = 32.

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06-26-2018 , 06:09 AM

iggystoned

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 100

Thanks for clarifying this guys, great help.

Good luck at the tables,

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