If you ask yourself the question as to what’s the most difficult part of playing Holdem then probably find yourself answering that calculating the odds is the most difficult thing to do. True, this is one aspect of the game where most of the newbies struggle. Calculating the odds is a very important part of Texas Holdem.

Your betting strategy and your moves mainly depend on the odds. If you unaware of calculating the hand odds and pot odds, you will have a tough time playing Holdem. Experts would vouch for the fact the its the odd calculation which is more important and many a times, games are not won with great cards but with perfect calculation of odds.

Wondering what the odds are all about? Simply put, odds are the likelihood of something happening versus how much you get paid if the event does happen. This is the fundamental base for almost all gambling games.

The likelihood of an action happening is referred to as odds and it would be difficult for you to bet effectively or call bets if you do not understand odds. If you are starting off to play holdem, then you could try out a odds calculator which are freely available on the Internet. This gives you an idea of how to calculate in actual games.

If you are wondering on your chances of hitting a flush draw or of your pocket pair improving to a set on the flop, odds calculation will help you in finding the answer. It’s not humanly possible to memorize all the information regarding the odds and the calculation but by understanding the basics is a must if you want to be on the winning side in Texas Holdem.

Few of the probabilities of being dealt some of the good hands is below. This should give you an idea of the chances of your opponent holding strong hands or you getting the cards mentioned.

Pre-flop Odds

Odds against a pocket pair being dealt – 16:1

Odds against AA or any specific pocket pair being dealt – 220:1

Odds against AK suited being dealt – 330:1

Odds against AK unsuited being dealt- 110:1

Odds against two suited and connected cards being dealt – 27:1

Odds against at least one Ace being dealt – 5.7:1

Odds on the flop and beyond

Odds against flopping a set, boat or quads while holding a pocket pair – 7.5:1

Odds against flopping a straight with connected cards (4,5 through 10,J) – 76:1

Odds against flopping a flush – 118:1

Odds against flopping a four flush when holding two suited cards – 6.4:1

Odds against pairing one of your hole cards on the flop – 3:1

These odds should be able to help you in placing you bets or calling. Remember, its not about memorizing these odds. Its about understanding how these are calculated and to calculate the odds you need to have experience. Another thing to note is that the odds are rough estimates and most of the times they are close enough.

You will not find any player who is able to calculate the odds accurately. The closer their calculations are better their chances of winning. Go ahead and try out the odd calculation in your practice games and you should just do fine when it matters the most.