What is Equity in Poker? Essential Concept for Smarter Play
Whether playing a live Texas Hold’em tournament at your local casino or trying a few games of video poker online, one of the best things that can improve your game is learning poker equity. It’s something that all professional poker players calculate as they play and can give you valuable insights into your hand.
So, what is equity in poker, how do you calculate it, and why is it so important?
What is Equity in Poker?
Poker equity calculates the percentage of times you will win the pot, which can help you determine the right move during any given situation.
For instance, if there is $100 in the pot and you have equity of 95%, based on a 95% chance of winning, you have $95 equity. In such cases, you should match every bet and think about increasing the pot size and getting as much value out of the hand as possible.
How to Calculate Equity in Poker
There are scores of poker equity calculators that can help you calculate your precise equity in any given hand. But you can’t use these in a casino, and using one every time you play an online game would be impractical. To get around this, professional players run the numbers in their heads and have a good idea of their equity at any given time.
The simplest way to calculate your poker equity is to know that you have a chance of around 4% of landing an out on either the turn or river, as there is a near 2% chance of any single card being dealt at any time. So, if you have a flush draw, four cards from that suit are already on the table or in your hand, leaving nine possible outs on the turn and river and giving you around a 36% chance of winning.
But you don’t just have a flush draw to think about. With those remaining two cards, you could catch two pairs, a straight or a three-of-a-kind, pushing your equity even higher.
Examples of Equity in Poker
Let’s imagine you’re holding an Ah and 2h, and you’ve bet your way to the river with 3h, 4d, 7s, and 9d on the board. You have a long-shot chance at landing a 5, and even though that wouldn’t be the nuts (your opponent could already have a higher straight and may catch a straight to the 9 if that 5 hits), you’re confident that your opponent is playing with a high pocket pair.
Assuming they have aces, you have a 6% chance of winning the hand. That is your equity. You will win 6% of the time and lose 94%. If there is $100 in the pot and your opponent shoves $500, a call wouldn’t represent value. It means you’re betting 500% of the pot and potentially 1000% of your current wager for a 6% chance of winning.
You don’t need us to tell you that would be a bad idea.
Conversely, if you have Ac and As, your opponent has 10h and Jh, and the first four cards are Qh, 9h, 4s, and 2c, you have a 66% chance of winning. Your opponent has straight and flush draws, so they have a lot of outs, but you will win if anything other than a king, 8 or a heart lands. You should call if they shove and you predict they are on a straight/flush draw.
What is Fold Equity in Poker?
Fold equity calculates the likelihood of a player folding to a raise or bet. If there is $100 in the pot and you calculate a 50% chance your opponent will fold, that’s a 50% fold equity worth $50.
Of course, it’s hard to know the exact probability of your opponent folding, but if you have ever played a live poker game, you will have already used this calculation. As you sit and ponder your next move, you’re either thinking about how you get more value and keep them in the hand or how you can bluff and scare them away. You’re telling yourself that there is an X chance that they will fold, and in doing so, you’re calculating the fold equity.
For more information on using methods like this, look at ourlow limit poker tips.
Summary: What is Equity in Poker?
Poker equity is an important tool. It’s not always precise, as you won’t know what your opponent is holding until they turn over their cards and you’re involved in a showdown. But you can have a fairly good idea, and the more you play, the better you will become at reading other players based on their faces, reactions, and play.
Check out our guide to 3 card poker hand rankings for more top poker tips. You’ll be a poker pro in no time!
Poker Common Queries
What is all-in equity poker?
All-in equity is the total equity value of your hand after you call someone’s all-in or have one of your own called. At this point, you know what your opponent is holding, so you can see your chances of winning and use this to judge how much of that pot should be yours. In online games, your probability of winning the hand is usually shown on the screen and will change as each card is drawn.
How much equity do you need to call in poker?
It depends on the value of the call compared to the pot. You’re not simply waiting for a time when you have a more than 50% chance of winning the pot. For instance, if your equity is 25%, there is $300 in the pot, and your opponent bets $100, you have a 1 in 4 chance of winning $400 from a $100 bet. At this point, it makes perfect sense to call despite your relatively low winning odds.
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