Implied Odds in Poker

It is a common occurrence in Omaha poker games for you to be sat pondering a decision on the flop. If you are a thinking player, then it is likely that you are thinking ahead. You will not only be considering your options on the flop, but also the turn and the river. 

This thought process may lead you from a potential fold on the flop - because your pot odds are insufficient - to making a call because you believe you can stack your opponent if you nail your hand. This type of thinking is known as considering your implied odds.

The basic theory of implied odds relies on the potential of winning more money later in the hand, as the strength of your holding improves. Instead of just thinking about your direct pot odds on the flop, you consider your pot odds for the entire hand. 

Of course, you do not have a crystal ball in poker tournaments and, as such, you are going to have to guess, but it becomes an automatic process over time; practice makes perfect.

A great example of using implied odds to continue in a hand concerns set mining. The odds of you hitting a set on the flop is around 8 to 1. So, if you are facing a pre flop three-bet whilst holding a small pocket pair, direct pot odds will mean you should fold. 

But set mining is so effective you can stack an opponent should you hit your set at the same time your opponent hits top pair with a strong kicker. If this is the case, then you can call because you have the correct implied odds (assuming that your opponent is not playing with a short stack).

<< Back to Poker Articles