Poker strategy essays
Introduction
to Implied Odds
From
Pokerlistings.com
The education of a Texas
Holdem poker player is a long road. Many players
start by seeing poker as a game of pure luck, like
blackjack or craps. Sooner or later, they begin to
realize that there are certain things they can do
to gain an edge over opponents. They may then start
to study and learn about tools to success such as
pot odds. Once players learn about pot odds, the next
step is to understand implied odds.
Pot
Odds Vs. Implied Odds
Pot
odds represent the odds the pot is laying you right
now. If there is $75 in the pot and you need to call
$25 to see your opponent's hand, you are getting 3-to-1
pot odds, meaning you need to be correct more than
one time out of four to be right to call. However,
this calculation is based on the idea that the betting
is over once you make the call. Implied odds takes
into consideration what may happen on later streets
if you call a bet now.
Implied
Odds
The
implied odds are the pot odds with additional money
that you expect to make on later streets if you hit,
added into the calculation. For example, there is
$75 in the pot and it's $25 to you after the flop.
You have an open-ended straight draw which gives you
a slightly better than 5-to-1 shot to hit on your
next card. As a pure pot odds calculation the call
is incorrect. However if you think you can get more
than $50 out of your opponent after you hit on the
turn, you are really facing a bet of $25 to win $125
or more, which is better than 5-to-1, making your
call correct.
Notes
on Implied Odds
To
use implied odds effectively you must be honest
with yourself. A flush on board, for example, is easy
to see, and you can't assume that your opponent will
blindly shove all his chips in just because you hit
your flush. Also, keep an eye on your opponent's stack.
You can't get any implied odds if he doesn't have
the chips to pay you off with! Make reasonable judgments
based on the situation and your read of your opponents,
to decide whether you have good implied odds or not.
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