F^3. Fantastic Flop-pot Formula

Knowing pot size is important for deciding how to proceed (e.g, it is one of the two factors for determining SPR and pot odds.

Situation: An early position bettor makes a preflop opening bet of B. There are one or more callers, no short stacks, no 3-bets, who may or may not include the blinds. The size of the pot will depend on whether zero, one or both blinds call. We first assume that the small blind (sb) = 0.5* big blind (bb).

Flop Pot Size = (N+1)*B + C*P/3
where

P = initial preflop pot (= sb + bb). N = number of callers. B = opening preflop bet size
C = blind-caller factor: C=3, no blinds call; C=2, SB calls; C=1, BB calls; C=0, both blinds call

Example:
A 10/20 game with an initial bet of 25 by UTG and only the small blind called:

P = 10 + 20 = 30, N =1, B = 25, C= 2

Flop Pot = (N+1)*B + C*P/3 = 2 *25 + 2*30/3 = 70

(initial pot= 30, hero bet = 25, SB call = 25-10 = 15 ==> Pot = 30+25+15=70)

If the button and big blind called the 25 bet, N=2, C = 1: Pot = 3*25 + 1*30/3 = 85

The above formula is specific for the case of bb = 2 * sb (e.g. 5/10). Otherwise, replace the 3 in the formula with 1+ bb/sb

F^3 Application
Not designed for preflop raises
Not designed for those who don’t care what the initial flop pot size is

Don’ts
Do not use if you can’t add, multiply or divide. Being a good subtractor will not help
Do not use if you are playing chess instead of hold’ em
Do not use if the equation is wrong