Every calling decision comes down to comparing your (how much you win) with the price you're being offered (the pot odds).
Equity
Your equity is your percentage of winning the pot against the opponent's hand or . If your hand wins 6 out of every 10 times, you have 60% equity.
Pot odds
They're the price of continuing. If the pot is 100 and you have to call 50, you risk 50 to win 150 → you need to win at least 50/150 = 33% of the time for the call to be profitable.
| Opponent's bet | Equity you need to call |
|---|---|
| ⅓ pot | 20% |
| ½ pot | 25% |
| ⅔ pot | 29% |
| Full pot | 33% |
| 2× pot | 40% |
EjemploPot 80, the opponent bets 40. You call 40 to win 120 → you need 40/120 = 33% equity. If your flush draw has ~36%, calling makes money. If you only have overcards (~25%), fold (unless there are implied odds).
Implied odds
Sometimes you call even when the pot odds fall short, because if you hit you'll win extra chips on future streets. That's implied odds. They work best with hands that hit hard and hidden (suited connectors, small pairs looking for a set), and worst against opponents who don't call.
💡 Clave: Equity ≥ price of the pot → call. Equity < price → fold (unless the implied odds make up for it).