What are Implied Odds in Poker?

Implied odds are extra chips you expect to win on later streets if you complete, on top of the pot odds of the call you face now. If the pot is 100 and they bet 50, pot odds for the call are 50 to win 200 — 25%. Implied odds add what they might pay after you hit.

They go to zero when the opponent is all-in: no later street, no extra. They shrink when the opponent is a calling station who only pays with better, or when the remaining stack is too short to pay.

What implied odds are

• Extra later-street money if you hit, on top of this call's pot odds.
• Not the same number as pot odds. Not reverse implied odds.
• Zero when they are all-in. Thin when they will not pay a second-best hand.

Pot odds vs implied odds

Pot odds are the price of this call. Implied odds are a second number: how much extra you think you can win later. Do not paste a 3-bet seat table here.

Do not treat pot odds and implied odds as synonyms. Do not dump the whole set-mining lesson here.

Worked stack-depth example

Implied odds are not a fixed number you calculate once. They change with stack depth, the opponent's range, and how likely they are to pay you off. The same draw can be a clear call with 200bb behind and a clear fold with 20bb behind.

Example 1: Deep stacks, nut draw — call.

You are in a 1/2 game with 200bb. You hold A♠5♠ on a Q♠7♠2♦ flop. The pot is 20bb. Your opponent bets 15bb. You have 9 outs to the nut flush, so your pot odds are 15 / (20 + 15 + 15) = 15/50 = 30%. Your chance to hit on the next card is about 19%, so pot odds alone say fold. But your opponent has 180bb behind. If you hit your flush on the turn, you can often win a big bet on the river because your opponent may have top pair or an overpair and will not believe you called with a flush draw. You need to win, on average, about 11bb extra on later streets to make the call profitable. With 180bb behind, that is almost always available. Call.

Example 2: Short stacks, draw to a non-nut — fold.

You are in the same 1/2 game but you have 30bb and your opponent has 25bb. The pot is 20bb, and your opponent bets 15bb, putting themselves nearly all-in. You hold 8♠7♠ on a Q♠9♠2♦ flop. You have a flush draw and a gutshot, but your flush draw is not the nuts — the A♠ and K♠ are still out. Your pot odds are the same 30%, and your chance to hit is about 19% on the turn. But there is almost no money left to win on later streets. Your opponent is effectively all-in, so implied odds are zero. You are not getting the right price to chase a draw that might not even be best when you hit. Fold.

Example 3: Deep stacks, but opponent is a calling station who only pays better — fold.

You are in a 1/2 game with 200bb. You hold J♦T♦ on a 9♦4♦2♣ flop. The pot is 20bb. Your opponent bets 15bb. You have a flush draw, but it is not the nuts — the A♦ and K♦ are out. Your opponent is a calling station who never folds top pair, but they also never bet when a third diamond hits unless they have a better flush. If you hit your flush, they will check-call one small bet, but they will not pay you off big. You might win only 10bb extra on later streets, which is not enough to justify the call. Fold.

In each example, the key is not just the pot odds but the amount of money you can realistically win on later streets. Deep stacks and a nut draw give you high implied odds. Short stacks or a draw that can be second-best give you low or negative implied odds.

When implied odds are not there

Implied odds are not a magic excuse to call any draw. They only exist when you can win extra money on later streets. Here are the situations where implied odds are zero or negative:

• The opponent is all-in. If there is no more money to bet, the only odds that matter are pot odds. Calling a bet that does not give you the right pot odds is a mistake, no matter how strong your draw is.
• Your draw is not to the nuts. If you hit your flush but the opponent could have a higher flush, you will lose money when you hit. This is reverse implied odds. The extra money you expect to win is offset by the money you lose when you are second-best.
• The opponent is a calling station who only pays better. Some players will call your bet when you hit, but they will only pay you off if they have a hand that beats you. They will fold their top pair when the flush comes, so you do not get paid. Your implied odds are low.
• The opponent is capped. If the opponent's range is weak (for example, they only have a bluff catcher), they will not pay you off big when you hit. You need an opponent with a strong hand that can pay you off.
• The stack depth is too shallow. If you or your opponent have less than about 20bb behind, there is not enough money to make up for the pot odds deficit. You need deep stacks to have meaningful implied odds.

Three common leaks related to implied odds:

• Overestimating how often you get paid. Just because you hit your draw does not mean the opponent will pay you off. Many players assume they will win a big bet every time, but in reality, opponents often fold when the obvious draw hits.
• Ignoring reverse implied odds. When you draw to a non-nut hand, you lose money when you hit and are beaten. This is a hidden cost that reduces your implied odds.
• Using implied odds to justify any call. Implied odds are not a blank check. You must have a realistic estimate of how much extra money you can win, and that estimate must be based on the opponent's tendencies and stack depth.

Implied vs reverse implied

Implied odds help when a worse hand will pay you after you hit. Reverse implied odds hurt when a better hand will pay you after you hit — you made a second-best hand and the leftover stack comes your way the wrong direction.

A draw to the nuts vs a player who can pay has implied odds. A draw to the second-nut flush vs a calling station has reverse implied odds. They are not two names for the same number.

Later streets still to bet

If they call your next bet, the leftover stack is the implied-odds bank. If they raise, recalculate. If they are all-in, stop counting later streets.

Set-mining with a small pair is one use of implied odds — that decision lives on the set-mining page. This page is the extra-money idea, not the 12% / 20x table.

When you make the call based on implied odds, the next decision is on the turn. If you hit your draw, you need to decide how to extract value. If you miss, you usually check-fold unless the opponent gives you a good price to see the river. The key is to plan your turn and river play before you call. If you are calling with a flush draw, you should be prepared to bet or raise when you hit, especially if the opponent checks to you. If you are calling with a straight draw, you need to be aware of the board pairing or flush cards that could kill your action. The size of your bet on later streets should be based on the pot and the opponent's range, not on the amount you needed to make the call profitable.

Frequently asked questions

What are implied odds in poker?

Extra chips you expect to win on later streets if you hit, on top of the price of the current call. They are not the same number as pot odds. Are implied odds the same as pot odds?

No. Pot odds price this call. Implied odds are later-street money if you hit. Reverse implied odds are extra you lose when you hit second-best. Do implied odds apply when the opponent is all-in?

No. If the opponent is all-in, there is no more money to win on later streets. Only pot odds matter. Implied odds are zero. How do I estimate implied odds in the moment?

Estimate how much extra money you can win on later streets if you hit your draw. Multiply the chance of hitting by the expected extra winnings, and add that to the current pot. Compare that total to the cost of the call. What is the difference between implied odds and reverse implied odds?

Implied odds are the extra money you expect to win when you hit a strong hand. Reverse implied odds are the extra money you expect to lose when you hit a second-best hand. Both affect your decision. Can implied odds justify calling with a weak draw?

Sometimes, but only if the draw is to the nuts and the stacks are deep. If your draw is weak or can be beaten, reverse implied odds reduce your effective implied odds, making the call less profitable.