The Easy Example: A pocket pair
You start with a pair of Jacks in the pocket. Not too shabby. The flop however, doesn’t contain another Jack.
Lesson 1: What’s my chance of getting a Jack on the turn?
You need to just figure out the number of outs and divide it by the number of cards in the [...]

Probability is a huge factor in texas hold ‘em. Players use odds to determine their actions. The chances of finishing a flush or a straight, the probablity of getting an overcard, the percentage of times you’re going to flop a set to match your pocket pair are all important factors in poker. Knowledge of these [...]

Example #2 “The straight draw”
You start with a Jack of Spades and a Ten of Spades. You get a rainbow flop with a Queen of Spades, a Three of Diamonds, and a Nine of Clubs. You’ve got a straight draw.
Lesson 1: What are my chances of hitting it on the next card?
Same as before, but [...]

Example #3 “Top two pair”
You get dealt a King of Diamonds and a Nine of Hearts. The flop is lookin’ pretty good for you with a King of Spades, a Nine of Clubs, and a Four of Clubs. Top two pair!
Lesson 1: What are my chances of getting a full house on the turn?
To get [...]

By Barry Tanenbaum
I have been trying to think of a sport/activity in which it is worse to finish second than it is in poker. I finally came up with boxing, in which the guy that finishes second may be unconscious. But even then, the guy who finishes second gets paid.
In poker the player who [...]