Poker Pot Odds Chart
Facing a bet with a draw? This poker pot odds chart gives the exact equity you need to call every common bet size, the pot odds as a ratio, and how many outs that takes with one card to come. Below it is the rule of 2 and 4, checked against the exact percentages, so you know when the shortcut is close enough and when it lies.
Pot odds chart: equity needed to call
| Opponent's bet (of pot) | You call (into $100) | To win | Pot odds | Equity needed | Outs needed, 1 card to come |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | $25 | $125 | 5 : 1 | 16.7% | 8 |
| 33% (⅓) | $33 | $133 | 4 : 1 | 20% | 10 |
| 50% (½) | $50 | $150 | 3 : 1 | 25% | 12 |
| 67% (⅔) | $67 | $167 | 2.5 : 1 | 28.6% | 14 |
| 75% (¾) | $75 | $175 | 2.33 : 1 | 30% | 14 |
| 100% (pot) | $100 | $200 | 2 : 1 | 33.3% | 16 |
| 125% | $125 | $225 | 1.8 : 1 | 35.7% | 17 |
| 150% | $150 | $250 | 1.67 : 1 | 37.5% | 18 |
| 200% (2× pot) | $200 | $300 | 1.5 : 1 | 40% | 19 |
"Pot" is the pot before his bet. Break-even on direct odds only. Outs needed = fewest outs where outs ÷ 46 reaches the equity needed.
The formula
Equity needed = call ÷ (pot + bet + call)
Your call buys a share of the final pot: the old pot, his bet and your call. Win at least that share of the time and the call breaks even. Calling $50 into a final pot of $200 needs 25%; a pot-sized bet needs 33.3%, and a 2× overbet needs 40%. To turn a ratio of X to 1 into equity, divide 1 by X + 1: 3 to 1 is 25%.
Worked example: flush draw on the turn
The pot is $100 on the turn and your opponent bets $50. You have a flush draw: 9 outs among 46 unseen cards, so you hit the river 9 ÷ 46 = 19.6% of the time.
- Price: call $50 to win $150. You need 25%.
- Your equity: about 19.6%, short of what you need. On direct odds, this is a fold.
- Implied odds: you break even if you win about $56 more on the river when you hit. Fine against a player who pays off; not against one who shuts down when the third heart lands.
Now shrink his bet to a third of the pot. You need 20%, and the flush draw has 19.6%, almost exactly break-even. That's why small bets let draws in cheaply, and why the size you choose when you bet matters so much.
The rule of 2 and 4
You won't divide by 46 at the table, so use the shortcut: one card to come: outs × 2 · two cards to come: outs × 4. Here's how it compares with the exact numbers.
| Outs | Rule of 2 | Exact, 1 card (turn → river) | Rule of 4 | Exact, 2 cards (flop → river) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4% | 4.3% | 8% | 8.4% |
| 4 | 8% | 8.7% | 16% | 16.5% |
| 6 | 12% | 13% | 24% | 24.1% |
| 8 | 16% | 17.4% | 32% | 31.5% |
| 9 | 18% | 19.6% | 36% | 35% |
| 12 | 24% | 26.1% | 48% | 45% |
| 15 | 30% | 32.6% | 60% | 54.1% |
The rule of 2 slightly understates your chances, which errs on the safe side. The rule of 4 drifts the other way: it's close up to about 9 outs and then overstates big draws, 60% against the real 54.1% for 15 outs. For more than 8 outs, subtract (outs − 8) from the ×4 figure: 12 outs becomes 44% (exact 45%) and 15 outs becomes 53% (exact 54.1%).
The bigger mistake is using ×4 when you won't see both cards for one price. Calling a flop bet only buys the turn card if he'll bet again, so use ×2 and redo the math next street. The rule of 4 is for flop all-ins. Not sure how many outs you have? See the poker outs chart.
When you're the one betting
Pot odds answer the calling question. When you bet the draw yourself, folds count too, so a semi-bluff can profit where a call wouldn't. The free bluff calculator combines your outs with his fold rate and tells you whether to bet or check.
Want the full system? Unleash the Madman on Kindle (free with KU). A short LAG playbook covering when to fire, when to stop, and the Tilt Trigger System.
See it on Amazon →Pot odds FAQ
How do you calculate pot odds in poker?
Compare the call to the pot you'd win. Facing a $50 bet into a $100 pot, you call $50 to win $150, so your pot odds are 3 to 1. The equity you need is the call divided by the final pot: 50 ÷ 200 = 25%.
What equity do I need to call a pot-sized bet?
33.3%. You call one pot to win two pots (the original pot plus the bet), so you need to win one time in three to break even.
What is the rule of 2 and 4?
A shortcut for your chance to hit a draw. With one card to come, multiply your outs by 2. On the flop, when you'll see both the turn and river, multiply by 4. Nine flush outs is about 18% for one card and 36% for two (exact: 19.6% and 35%).
Is the rule of 4 accurate?
It's close for small draws and too optimistic for big ones. Fifteen outs gives 60% by the rule but 54.1% exactly. A common fix is to subtract (outs − 8) from the ×4 number once you have more than 8 outs: 15 outs becomes 53%.
What are implied odds?
Extra money you expect to win on later streets when you hit. They can justify a call the direct odds don't, but only if he'll actually pay you off.