What this calculator does
Pot odds compare the size of a bet you are calling against the current pot, but they ignore money that has not gone in yet. Implied odds fix that by adding the extra amount you expect to win on later betting rounds if your draw comes in, which is often the difference between a call that looks unprofitable on pot odds alone and one that is genuinely worth making.
This implied odds calculator takes the current pot, the amount to call, an estimate of future winnings if you hit, and your outs, and works out both the plain pot odds and the implied odds, then compares them against an estimated chance of hitting the draw so you can see which side of break-even the call falls on.
The formula
Break-even equity on pot odds alone is the call amount divided by the pot plus the call. Implied odds use the same idea but add the expected future winnings to the pot first, which lowers the equity you need to make the call worthwhile. The chance of hitting your draw is estimated with the rule of four and two: multiply outs by four if two cards are still to come, or by two if only one card remains.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Outs | The number of unseen cards that would complete your drawing hand. |
| Pot odds | The ratio of the current pot to the cost of calling, expressed here as the break-even equity percentage. |
| Implied odds | Pot odds recalculated after adding the future winnings you expect to collect if your draw hits. |
| Rule of four and two | A widely used shortcut for estimating drawing-hand equity without full combinatorics: outs times four for two cards to come, outs times two for one card. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Pot size right now ($) | The size of the pot before you act, not including the bet you are about to call. |
| Amount you need to call ($) | The amount you need to put in to continue in the hand right now. |
| Extra winnings expected on later streets if you hit ($) | Your honest estimate of extra money you could win on later streets if your draw completes, based on the opponent and stack sizes involved. |
| Outs (cards that complete your draw) | The count of cards left in the deck that would give you the winning hand. |
| Cards still to come | Whether you are drawing with one card left to come, such as river only, or two, such as flop to river. |
When to use it
Calling a flush draw on the flop
A flush draw typically has nine outs with two cards to come, giving roughly 36% equity by the rule of four and two, well above most pot odds requirements even before implied winnings are added.
Deep-stacked play against a predictable opponent
Implied odds matter most in deep stacks against opponents likely to pay off a big hand, since the future winnings estimate can be large relative to the current pot.
Short-stacked or all-in situations
When there is no money left to win on future streets, future winnings should be entered as zero, which reduces the calculation back to plain pot odds.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How estimated equity changes with the number of outs
The same pot and call, across a range of drawing hands with different out counts.
| Outs | Estimated chance of hitting your draw | Verdict at this estimated equity |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 16.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| 6 | 24.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| 8 | 32.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| 9 | 36.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| 12 | 48.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| 15 | 60.0% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
How the verdict changes with expected future winnings
A flush-draw-sized hand, across a range of future winnings estimates.
| Expected future winnings | Break-even equity needed (with implied winnings) | Verdict at this estimated equity |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | 16.7% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| $20 | 14.3% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| $40 | 12.5% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| $60 | 11.1% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| $100 | 9.1% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
| $150 | 7.4% | a profitable call once implied winnings are counted |
Questions
What is the difference between pot odds and implied odds?
Pot odds only count money already in the pot. Implied odds add an estimate of the extra money you expect to win on future betting rounds if your draw completes, which usually makes a borderline call look more favourable.
Is the rule of four and two exact?
No, it is a widely used approximation. The true probability depends on exactly how many cards remain unseen, but the rule of four and two is accurate enough for in-game decisions and is the standard shortcut taught for this purpose.
How should I estimate future winnings?
Base it on the remaining stack sizes, how likely the opponent is to keep betting into a completed hand, and how disguised your draw is. Being conservative is safer than assuming you will always get paid off in full.
What if future winnings should be negative, such as reverse implied odds?
This calculator assumes future winnings help you, which fits a straightforward drawing hand. Reverse implied odds, where completing your hand can still lose to a bigger hand, are a separate and more advanced consideration this calculator does not model.
For converting betting odds themselves into a probability, see the implied probability calculator. For the odds of being dealt a specific hand in the first place, see the poker probability calculator.