Computing Poker Odds
Importance of Poker Math

Being a champion player requires an understanding of poker odds and poker math that are a part of the game of poker. I am not suggesting you get a degree in math but having just the basic understanding of poker math and poker odds is critical to your success.

If I asked you what hands have the best pokerodds of winning in early position, would you know? Your opponents probably do!

Can you calculate the odds for calling a bet based on the money in the pot and the number of players in the hand? Your opponents probably do!

Do you understand why playing certain cards in certain positions can really affect your profits in this game? Again, your opponents surely do!

So brushing up on the odds and hands to play from what position is a critical component of your play.

I have included some of the basic information on this math behind poker. If you want some more, please select below to get a download of the details of the math and odds of hands to play.

Over time, everyone will be dealt the same cards and get the same flops as other players. You get the same 169 combinations of hands that every other player gets. If you play long enough you will get everyone of them. If you played for 8 hours and the table got on average 35 hands per hour, you would get pocket Aces only once or not at all. So you must take advantage when you actually get these premium hands.

So, the real issue then becomes how you play the cards with the flops that you get. When you get your big hands will you win and maximize your inflow of chips?

One other issue that is critical here is that you need to understand that the right cards to play will greatly depend on the position you are in when the hand begins. You cannot separate the hands to play from the position you are playing from in any particular hand. It is important that you realize that deciding which hands to play BEFORE the flop based on the odds and position is paramount to your success. Success in poker is making money, so understand all these factors before you throw your money on the pot.

So if you are in early position, the most profitable hands to play with the best odds are:

Pair of Aces
Pair of Kings
Pair of Queens
Ace and King suited or not
Ace Queen suited or not

Again you can play other hands in early positions and win, but these hands have the best odds of making you the most money in the long run.

In Middle Position

Add these hands:

Pair of Jacks
Pair of Tens
Pair of Nines
Pair of Eights
Ace with a Jack, ten, or nine suited or unsuited
King with a Queen or Jack suited or unsuited
Queen with a Jack or ten suited or unsuited

In late position add:

Pair of sevens through twos
Aces with suited eight through twos
King, Queen or Jack with suited tens, nines or eights
Suited ten nine or nine eight
Unsuited King and nine
Unsuited Queen and nine
Unsuited Jack and ten

Learn More about Poker Math and Odds: In my Poker Guide Book

Poker Odds and Poker Math: Learn More in Poker Guide Book

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