Poker Equity: Your Share of the Pot, Computed
Poker equity is your share of the pot if all the remaining cards were dealt, counting a split pot as half. A♠A♥ against K♣K♦ before the flop has 81.3%: over many deals, aces win about four pots in five. Equity is computed by dealing every possible board, and it becomes a decision once you compare it with the price of the call, the pot odds.
Compute an equity
Classic matchups, computed exactly
| Matchup | Equity of the first hand | When |
|---|---|---|
| A♠A♥ vs K♣K♦ | 81.3% | before the flop |
| 9♠9♣ vs A♥K♦ | 55.7% | before the flop |
| A♥K♦ vs 2♣2♠ | 47% | before the flop |
| 8♠7♠ vs A♥K♦ | 41.9% | before the flop |
| A♥Q♦ vs A♠K♣ | 26% | before the flop |
| J♥3♥ vs K♣Q♦ on K♠ 8♥ 5♥ | 36.6% | on the flop |
| 7♦7♣ vs A♠K♠ on J♠ 8♠ 7♥ | 74% | on the flop |
Each line is an exact count over every remaining board, not a simulation: equity = (wins + ties ÷ 2) ÷ boards dealt. The famous "coin flip", a pair against two higher cards, is not quite even: 9♠9♣ has 55.7% against A♥K♦, while 2♣2♠ is a slight favorite at 53% against the same hand. Detail by type of hand: pair vs overcards, dominated hands, flush draw vs top pair.
Equity is not winning chances
Ties count as half. A♠K♣ against A♥K♦ wins outright only 2.2% of the time, yet has 50% equity: almost every board splits the pot. That is why equity, not the chance to win outright, is what you compare with the price.
From equity to a decision
Compare your equity with the equity the price requires, the pot odds. Facing a pot-sized all‑in, you call 100 to win a pot of 300 and need 33.3%. With J♥3♥ against K♣Q♦ on K♠ 8♥ 5♥, your 36.6% against that exact hand is enough: calling wins money in the long run, which is its expected value.
Two limits:
- Against a range, not a hand. At the table you rarely know the exact hand; you average your equity over everything the opponent can hold: equity vs range.
- Equity is not realized automatically. With money left behind, a hand out of position or with a weak draw may fold before the river and never collect its share: equity realization.
Keep going
- Equity from outs, quickly: the rule of 2 and 4.
- The tools that compute it: best poker equity calculators 2026.
- Counting the hands behind a range: poker combinatorics.
- A pocket pair against a bigger pair: pocket pair vs pocket pair.
- When two hands tie, and who gets the odd chip: split pot.
Sources
- Equities enumerated exactly over every remaining board by this site's calculator.