How to Calculate Poker Equity (With Examples)
Poker equity is your share of the pot based on how often your hand will win from this point. Knowing how to calculate it tells you when a call, a bet or a fold makes money. Here are three ways to do it, from the quick table method to exact numbers.
What is poker equity?
If you would win a pot 40% of the time, your equity is 40% of the pot. With 100 chips in the middle, your hand is worth 40 chips on average. Equity counts split pots as half a win (or a smaller share with more players).
Method 1: count your outs
Outs are the cards that turn your hand into the best hand. Use the rule of 2 and 4:
- On the flop (two cards to come): equity ≈ outs × 4.
- On the turn (one card to come): equity ≈ outs × 2.
A flush draw has 9 outs: about 36% on the flop and 18% on the turn. The exact numbers are 35% and 19.6% (see the poker odds chart).
Method 2: know the common matchups
Many all-in spots repeat. These are exact equities from every possible board:
| Hand A | Hand B | When | Equity A | Equity B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A♠ K♦ | Q♠ Q♥ | before the flop | 43.2% | 56.8% |
| A♠ K♦ | 2♠ 2♥ | before the flop | 47.4% | 52.6% |
| A♠ A♥ | K♠ K♥ | before the flop | 82.6% | 17.4% |
| K♠ Q♠ | 7♦ 7♣ | before the flop | 49.0% | 51.0% |
| A♠ K♦ | A♥ Q♣ | before the flop | 74.0% | 26.0% |
| A♥ 9♥ | K♠ Q♣ | K♥ 7♥ 2♣ (flush draw vs top pair) | 44.9% | 55.1% |
| J♥ 10♥ | A♠ K♦ | A♦ 9♣ 2♥ (gutshot vs top pair) | 10.0% | 90.0% |
| 8♠ 8♦ | A♣ K♣ | K♦ 8♥ 3♣ (set vs top pair) | 94.7% | 5.3% |
A pair against two higher cards is close to a coin flip. A dominated hand (A-Q against A-K) has only about 26%.
Method 3: use a poker equity calculator
For exact numbers, enter the cards in our free poker odds calculator. It deals 20,000 random boards and shows your equity against one to seven opponents. For four-card games, use the Omaha odds calculator.
Equity and pot odds together
Equity is only half the decision. Compare it with the price of the call: if you must call 30 into a pot of 90, you need 30 ÷ 120 = 25% equity. With a 35% flush draw the call pays. Read what are pot odds in poker for the full method.
FAQ
How do you calculate equity in poker? Count your outs and use the rule of 2 and 4, remember common matchups, or enter the hands in an equity calculator.
What is the difference between equity and win percentage? Win percentage counts only outright wins. Equity also counts your share of split pots.
Is a pair against two overcards a coin flip? Close to it: A-K against 2-2 is about 47% against 53%.
Does equity guarantee a result? No. It is the average over many hands. Any single hand can go either way.