Poker Pots Explained

The term -Pot- in the game of Poker means the amount of cash that the players wager in a singe game or hand. The word -Pot- is short form which is used to define Jackpot. The main motive of the players playing in a game is to win the pot. Poker pot odds are an essential factor which will help you to win more profitable hands and in turn winning bigger pots.

There are numerous times during a game when you tend to ask yourself. Will it be worth staying for this hand? However, if you have the knowledge of using the pot odds correctly, you can get the answer to your question. Pot odds is the ratio of the amount which is already there in the pot to the sum of cash that you would have to pool in to play the hand.

A perfect example of using the odds is when you have a hand which is not the best poker hand but has the good potential of becoming the best hand provided the correct card is pulled out of the deck. Let us take a simple example. Suppose there are just four cards on the table and you are holding four clubs, prior to the river. The odds of completion of the flush are 5:1. If the betting to you is $5, then the pot should have at least $25 for you to call. Now lets say that the pot has $50. The odds of that club landing and you getting a best hand were 5 to 1. You will be paid 10:1 on the bet from the pot. You may not be a winner of the poker pot, but playing like this will help you to bet in a smart manner and increases the potential to win the hand resulting in giving you a handsome return of the risk that you have taken.

Again lets say that the pot has $40 and $5 is your bet. 8:1 odds are what the poker pot is giving you in this case. You may feel that your opponent owns a better hand; will his hand be 8 times better than your hand? If you feel it is, go ahead and fold. Call if you don't. There are several situations when you only will have to carefully determine whether it would be beneficial to play a hand or not. Using poker pot odds correctly will help you to take the correct decision.