What is the 4 2 poker rule?

Answer 1

The 4/2 Poker Rule was created to allow players to quickly, and reasonably accurately, calculate their odds during a poker hand. This will be used when you are holding a drawing hand, or feel you are behind in the hand. The 4/2 rule only comes into effect after the flop. Let's say I have 6 and 7 of hearts, and the flop comes A54 with no hearts. I've flopped an open-ended straight. We know for certain that this hand is not currently good, so we'll have to hit one of our outs in order to win (or bluff the guy out). We know there are four 3's, and four 8's that will make us a straight. That is 8 outs. The 4/2 rule states that if you want to know what chance you have to win if you only go to the turn, you multiply your outs by 2. If you plan to go to the river, you multiply your outs by 4. A quick calculation says I have a 16% chance to hit my straight if I go to the turn, and a 32% chance to win if I go to the river. Depending on what you're opponent is holding, and what they have has already hit, your odds will change. In the above example if you're opponent is holding pocket AA, and has a made set, you still have a 27% chance to win if you go to the river. This is why open-ended straight and flush draws are so powerful, and need to be played very aggressively. Use the 4/2 rule to calculate your odds on one of those hands, but remember to deduct two outs for overlap.