Texas Holdem Hand Odds

Why are Texas Holdem hand odds so crucial to know? Texas Holdem, like any other card game is a matter of chance, right? Well, not quite. Texas Holdem is a game where small edges and advantages make a big difference in who takes the pot and who takes naught. Knowing Texas Holdem hand odds will make sense out of what seems like a chaotic and random situation. Instead of a "you either win or lose" scenario, events around the card table will be somewhat more predictable. At the very least some knowledge of Texas Holdem hand odds will empower you with the knowledge of just how likely your hand will finish a flush, straight, or whatever it is you are trying to close.

Whenever one speaks of poker odds in general or Texas Holdem hand odds in particular, there is a certain vernacular that surrounds the enterprise: outs, pot odds, bet odds, implied odds, etc. When calculating your Texas Holdem hand odds you need only concern yourself with outs. An out is simply the number of cards still theoretically in the deck that will allow you to close a particular hand. For example, you have a suited ace and ten in the pocket (a very good starting hand). Before the flop the outs look like this: royal flush - three outs, flush - eleven outs, four of a kind - three outs, etc. Why the concept of outs is important to Texas Holdem hand odds is important is explained below. Do you want instant cash bonuses; sign-up and reload bonuses? If so, BodogPoker is for you!! Bodog.com is a very popular online Sports/Poker/Casino website which offers a great player points system along with many free-roll tournaments! Are you ready to win a seat into this year's World Series of Poker Main Event? Bodog Poker has built the best reputation for Online Gaming by nailing four key service points; offering quick and simple depositing methods, instant cash bonuses, fast payouts, and the most impressive customer service department in the industry! Join Bodog Poker today!

While it is possible to memorize the entire table of Texas Holdem hand odds for every situation after the flop, and after the turn, there is a much simpler solution. Texas Holdem aficionado, Bill Burton, offers the "rule of four - two". It is an uncomplicated method to calculate your approximate Texas Holdem hand odds in any situation.

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The first step of Burton's method is to count your outs after the flop. Multiply this number by four. This gives you a rough percentage of your Texas Holdem hand odds after the flop. Using the example above, say the flop turned up an 8 and 9 matching the suit of our ace-ten combo. This leaves nine outs. To calculate the odds of closing the flush simply multiply the outs by 4. 9 x 4 = 36. This 36 represents the chance in percentages of the turn or river yielding you a flush. This same system can be applied after the turn, but in this case you multiply the number of outs by 2 instead of 4.

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This method of calculating Texas Holdem hand odds is easy and efficient and should be applied to every game of Texas Holdem. Eventually you will learn by heart the odds of some of the most common situations, such as the flush example mentioned above. Remember, this is a game of incremental advantage, do not underestimate the value of knowing and applying the Texas Holdem hand odds.

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by Bones McCoy at offshorepokerroom.com on May 18, 2006


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