What is Pot odds?
Pot odds is the ratio between the current size of a poker pot and the cost of a call, used to judge whether calling is mathematically justified.
If the pot holds £80 and an opponent bets £20, the pot is now £100 and a call costs £20, so the pot odds are 5 to 1. The caller needs to win at least one time in six for the call to break even in the long run. If their chance of completing a winning hand is higher, the call has positive expected value.
Implied odds extend the idea by counting money the player expects to win on later betting rounds if they hit their hand.
Pot odds illustrate a key difference between poker and casino games: in poker, skilled decisions can produce long-run profit against other players, while house-banked games carry a built-in edge. The calculation is a central part of poker strategy and of TV commentary.