Poker is not only a game of knowledge, it’s also a game of mathematics. With practice, you will have the ability to tell whether you or your opponent has the winning the hand in any situation by calculating the odds.
Poker mathematics can be used in many situations, but they are mostly used when a player is on a draw such as a straight draw or a flush. If your opponent makes a bet and you are on a draw, you have two options: call and try to complete the draw with the next card, or fold and give the pot to your opponent.
The first thing you should do is estimate the probability that your opponent is bluffing and has a worse hand than you. For example, if your opponent bluffs 1 time for every 3 times he has the best hand on the river, there is 1 in 4 chance that you’ll have a better hand than him and 3 in 4 chance that you won’t. For every 3 times you lose, you will win 1 time.
When you use mathematics in poker, remember that your decisions will not have an immediate effect on your winning. Working out the odds in a particular hand and making the right call does not guarantee you will to win the hand.
Perseverance is the key.