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Implied Odds

Implied odds is a concept that takes pot odds to the next level. Understanding pot odds can help make marginal decisions easier and can generally enhance one’s Odds Calculations in Poker

In general, when making a poker decision, the challenge is to determine your highest expected value play, or in lay terms, the play that is going to make you the most money. If you calculate that you are 4-to-1 to win a hand, you need the pot to offer you better than 4-to-1 odds to make a call correct.

However, this calculation does not take into consideration additional money you may win if you hit your hand. This can be an important factor.

Implied Odds in Poker

Implied odds expands the idea of pot odds to help give a more accurate picture of a situation. For example, you hold 8s 9s and the board reads Td 7h As. There is $50 in the pot and your opponent bets $50 more, offering you $50 to win $100, or 2-to-1. Your odds of making an open ended straight draw are closer to 5-to-1, so in normal circumstances this would be a fold.
However, lets say your opponent is very deep stacked and you are confident he has a big ace. If you call, he will probably bet again on the turn.

If a jack or six comes, you may be able to raise and get a call from him. If you think you can get him to put another $200 in the pot after you hit your hand, you are really putting in $50 for a chance to win $300, or 6-to-1. In this case, your $50 call would be correct due to the implied odds offered by the extra money you can win after hitting your hand. Important Facts about Implied Odds:

Implied odds, unlike pot odds, are an estimate. There’s no way to know if and how much an opponent will be willing to put in after you hit your hand. This is especially true if you are drawing at a flush, which is easy to see if it comes. And since the real game – unlike Caribbean poker and other casino variations – is played against other players, you can just make a more or less qualified guess how your opponents will act.

Be careful about your implied odds estimates and use implied odds as a legitimate tool to help with marginal decisions, not as an excuse to make questionable calls. Check out more information about Poker Odds.