Why is the "Bet Pot" amount larger than what appears to be in the pot?

[crystalallen]

I have recently decided to try playing poker for money so I signed up at UB. This is my first time playing with a "Bet Pot" button. It's really throwing me off.

An example: I'm first to act, 20 and 40 blinds are posted. I look at the Bet Pot button and it says 140. ???

Where does this number come from? And is this the number you use for pot odds calculations?

Thanks!

[Rek]

A pot bet is a raise. If you were to do a normal minimum raise you would bet 80 in this example. So it is the 80 plus what is in the pot.

If you have other people acting before you their amounts go into the equation as well

[Rek]

Just seen the second part of your question - This in nothing to do with pot odds

[gregorio]

Betting pot is calling whatever bet had already been make in that round, and then betting an additional amount equal to the size of the pot after you called the bet

If the pot is $10 on the flop,and someone bets $5, a pot sized raise is:

Calling the $5 bet

+

Betting the $20 pot (pot is $10 + $5bet + $5call = $20)

= $25 in total


Quick math:
Pot-sized bet/raise = Pot + 2xbett to you

In above example, pot is $15 after the bet on the flop, bet to you is $5, so pot-sized raise is $15+(2x$5)=$25

[gregorio]

[ QUOTE ]
An example: I'm first to act, 20 and 40 blinds are posted. I look at the Bet Pot button and it says 140. ???


[/ QUOTE ]

So in your example, bet pot =
pot + 2x bet to you
= $60 (20+40=$60 blinds) + 2x$40
= $140

[crystalallen]

Thank you so much.

I just made my first deposit a week ago, and I've been trying to play using odds and proper continuation bets etc.. and this number was throwing me off. I'd have four to the flush on the flop, look at the bet, look at the number in "bet pot" and get thoroughly confused.

I thought maybe I should get this figured out before I move up from the $5 SitnGos I'm playing.

[crystalallen]

Thank you.

[dubiousdrift]

Another thing to note is that betting pot in this way lays exactly 2-1 odds back to an original bettor.

Take for example a pot of 100 (pennies or dollars) on the flop. Someone bets 1/2 pot of 50 to you. You bet pot and it folds back to the original raiser who is now getting 2-1 to call your raise.

100 (pot) + 50 (bet) = 150
(youre getting 3-1 on a call)

you bet pot, which is:
50 (call) + 200 (raise of the size of the pot after your call) = 250

The original bettor now must call 200 for a 400 pot, getting exactly 2-1 pot odds for the call.

Hope this helps someone.
- dubiousdrift