Using the 4-2 rule in No Limit Texas Holdem
Most PokerStars players use different strategies for calculating their odds to determine if they should call, raise or fold when playing No Limit Texas Holdem. However, through my journey as a poker player, I have found that the 4-2 rule is the simplest and most effective strategy.
The 4-2 rule is a simple strategy for calculating if you are getting the right free poker odds to call. It uses a simple formula, where you calculate you odds by either multiplying by 4 or multiplying by 2. However, before using the 4-2 rule, you need to know what your pot odds are and how many outs you have.
What are pot odds?
Pot odds are the ratio of the amount of money in the pot in comparison to the amount you need to call a bet. For example, if there is $500 in a pot and player1 bets $250 into the pot, you are getting odds of 3 to 1 to call. That is because after player1 pots $250 into the pot, there is now $750 in the pot, and you only need to put $250 into the pot to see the next card. (750/250 = 3).
How to work out how many outs you have
If you have a flush draw after the flop, you have 9 outs, or 9 cards that make your flush. It is easy to work out how many outs you have after any flop. If you flop 1 pair, and you believe you need 2 pair or better to win, you simple add the 2 cards left that can give you trips to the 3 cards that would give you 2 pair. Therefore, in this example you would have 5 outs.
So how do I use the 4 -2 rule?
Now that you know how many outs you have, and what party poker pot odds you are getting to call, it is a simple multiplication to work out if it is the right decision to call or fold. Therefore, we know that we are getting pot odds of 3-1, which works out at 25%. We also know that we have 9 outs. So depending on if there is 1 card to come or 2 cards to come will determine if we multiply our outs by 4 or 2 to work out our percentage of catching the card we need to win the hand.
If there is still 2 cards to come you multiply your PKR Poker.com outs by 4, or if there is 1 card to come you multiply by 2. So for example, after the flop with 2 cards to come – you multiply 9 (you outs) by 4, which give you 36%. Since 36% (your chance of hitting your outs) is greater than 25% (the odds you are getting to call), you should call. However, if you only have 1 card to come you multiply your outs (9) by 2, which equal 18%. Since 18% is less than 25%, you should fold.