Pot Odds!!! Keeping track of the pot...

[UnaBmb3r]

I would like to know how do you guys keep track of what's in the pot when people are raising and betting, calling. I tend to lose track when I am in a casino of what is in the pot especially when there is so much going on, and then all the chips are spread around in the pot so it makes it hard to count it without people noticing. thank you!

[KipBond]

Last Raise * # of Callers (people in the pot) + Dead Money (people who put money in but then folded). I round up.

[UnaBmb3r]

Ok I so basically there is no easy way of figuring it out. you have to do the math, it just seems like some of these guys are so fast with it i thought there might've been some easy way of doing it, but it looks like you just have to do the math the best way you know how.

[SheridanCat]

As you get comfortable with it a) it'll seem slow and b) you'll know without even actively counting it.

[7n7]

[ QUOTE ]
I would like to know how do you guys keep track of what's in the pot when people are raising and betting, calling. I tend to lose track when I am in a casino of what is in the pot especially when there is so much going on, and then all the chips are spread around in the pot so it makes it hard to count it without people noticing. thank you!

[/ QUOTE ]

Think of it in terms of # of big and small bets instead of trying to do the math.

Ex: 5/10 Limit HE:

3 callers including the blinds pre-flop. Instead of counting "3,6,9,12,15" (# of players in the pot * $3), count it as 5 small bets.

Flop comes out: bet, call, and you call, other 2 fold. 2 more small bets. Total of 8 small bets in the pot.

Since the bets double on the turn and river, divide the number of small bets by 2 (4) and resume counting in # of big bets.

Turn: bet, fold, you call. 2 more big bets = 4 + 2= 6

Don't worry about the amount of money, just the number of bets. By doing it this way, you'll know exactly your pot odds without having to do the extra math.

In other words, before you called on the flop, there were 6 small bets, so you were getting 7:1.

Before you called on the turn, there was 5 big bets, giving you 5:1.

[7n7]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would like to know how do you guys keep track of what's in the pot when people are raising and betting, calling. I tend to lose track when I am in a casino of what is in the pot especially when there is so much going on, and then all the chips are spread around in the pot so it makes it hard to count it without people noticing. thank you!

[/ QUOTE ]

Think of it in terms of # of big and small bets instead of trying to do the math.

Ex: 5/10 Limit HE:

3 callers including the blinds pre-flop. Instead of counting "3,6,9,12,15" (# of players in the pot * $3), count it as 5 small bets.

Flop comes out: bet, call, and you call, other 2 fold. 2 more small bets. Total of 8 small bets in the pot.

Since the bets double on the turn and river, divide the number of small bets by 2 (4) and resume counting in # of big bets.

Turn: bet, fold, you call. 2 more big bets = 4 + 2= 6

Don't worry about the amount of money, just the number of bets. By doing it this way, you'll know exactly your pot odds without having to do the extra math.

In other words, before you called on the flop, there were 6 small bets, so you were getting 7:1.

Before you called on the turn, there was 5 big bets, giving you 5:1.

[/ QUOTE ]

I screwed this example up trying to type it as I was walking out the door.

Let's try this again.


Think of it in terms of # of big and small bets instead of trying to do the math.

Ex: 3/6 Limit HE:

3 callers including the blinds pre-flop. Instead of counting "3,6,9,12,15" (# of players in the pot * $3), count it as 5 small bets.

Flop comes out: bet, call, and you call, other 2 fold. 3 more small bets. Total of 8 small bets in the pot.

Since the bets double on the turn and river, divide the number of small bets by 2 (4) and resume counting in # of big bets.

Turn: bet, fold, you call. 2 more big bets = 4 + 2= 6

Don't worry about the amount of money, just the number of bets. By doing it this way, you'll know exactly your pot odds without having to do the extra math.

In other words, before you called on the flop, there were 7 small bets, so you were getting 7:1.

Before you called on the turn, there was 5 big bets, giving you 5:1.

[Monolith]

don't worry about people noticing: everyone is counting the pot; also, just keep counting it, as it's put in the pot, in terms of big or small bets (3/6 limit: 4 big bets in, etc...); after awhile, it's second nature, and you are always just aware of how much is in, without even consciously counting it.

[SheridanCat]

[ QUOTE ]
don't worry about people noticing: everyone is counting the pot

[/ QUOTE ]

It's more likely that no one is counting the pot. However, I agree that no one will notice.

[UnaBmb3r]

Ok Thanks I like that idea of considering it as bets and not the value. I am going to try that when i go back to the casino. and also now that i do think about it you are right there are some people counting the pot sometimes, I just don't want people noticing me counting the pot since that could be a possible tell, it looks like im drawing and checking to see the pot odds you know, but anyways thank you very much.

[7n7]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok Thanks I like that idea of considering it as bets and not the value. I am going to try that when i go back to the casino. and also now that i do think about it you are right there are some people counting the pot sometimes, I just don't want people noticing me counting the pot since that could be a possible tell, it looks like im drawing and checking to see the pot odds you know, but anyways thank you very much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I recall a guy I used to play with all the time at a local casino and I could literally see him counting silently to himself. I'd put him on a draw every time. If a flush or straight card didn't hit the turn or river, I bet and took it down, a lot of times with nothing.

I definitely think there's some value in watching those that are intently counting the pot. 1) You can bluff if their likely draws don't get there and 2) You can at least note these players as being somewhat poker-educated and play accordingly.