Quick facts by PokerStrategy

  • The reverse implied odds definition in poker is the amount you stand to lose on future streets when you hit but other players still have you beat.
  • Hands like top pair with a weak kicker, low flush draws, and the low end of straight draws can all have reverse implied odds.
  • Reverse implied odds makes it difficult to get value when ahead and likely you will lose a significant amount when dominated.
  • Reverse implied odds strategy involves avoiding certain situations, using pot control, and knowing when to fold.

What Are Reverse Implied Odds in Poker?

Reverse implied odds in poker refer to the money or chips you could potentially lose on future streets when you hit your hand, but your opponent still has you beat. This concept is especially important in online poker, where deep-stacked cash games and fast-paced tournament formats make postflop decision-making critical.

In poker, when your hand has reverse implied odds, you risk losing much more when you are behind than what you can expect to win when you are ahead.

There are lots of situations in poker in which reverse implied odds are relevant, such as when you have a pair with a weak kicker, or when you are drawing to a weak flush or the bottom end of the straight. Opponents can have a higher version of these hands and dominate you.

Impact and Examples of Reverse Implied Odds

When you have reverse implied odds working against you, you stand to lose more chips than you gain on average, even when your hand improves. You’ll struggle to get value when you’re ahead, because opponents won’t readily call you down with weaker hands. At the same time, you can end up paying off stronger hands.

This reduces the effective strength of your hand. Even if you have the correct pot odds to call a bet, you’ll want to consider folding if reverse implied odds are against you, something that is especially true in deep-stack cash games on offshore poker sites.

To illustrate with a general example, let’s say that you have a top pair with a weak kicker. Yes, you are ahead of lower pairs and high card hands, but your opponent is going to fold most of these hands to anything more than a single tiny bet.

When your opponent hits top pair with a higher kicker (or better), you are totally crushed in the hand and have very little equity. But, you won’t easily be able to fold because the top pair is still strong enough to stay in the pot.

Here are a couple of examples that will outline and illustrate how reverse implied odds work in real poker scenarios.

Example With Top Pair

  • You have K♠9♠ on a flop of K♦7♣2♥, giving you top pair with a fairly weak kicker.
  • Given the action preflop, you decide that it’s unlikely your opponent has many weaker pairs of kings in their range. They have more combinations that dominate you, such as AK, KQ, KJ, and KT.
  • Despite hitting the top pair, you proceed with caution to avoid losing a big pot, folding when the action heats up.

Example With Flush Draw

  • You have 8♦7♦, and the flop is Q♦9♣2♦, giving you a flush draw with a gutshot straight draw.
  • However, if your opponent has a hand like A♦K♦ or any flush draw higher than your own, you could lose a huge pot even if you complete your draw.
  • Not only that, but they could also be drawing to the higher end of the straight.
  • You could be drawing close to dead in this situation, and reverse implied odds are against you.

How to Spot and Calculate Reverse Implied Odds

There are certain starting hands that simply do not play well due to reverse implied odds, especially from early position.

Your first line of defense against reverse implied odds, then, is to fold trash hands with weak kickers and very low-suited connectors, as well as look out for postflop situations in which you could be dominated.

Here’s a checklist of how to spot and avoid situations with bad reverse implied odds:

  • Fold trashy hands that are easily dominated preflop.
  • Avoid chasing weak draws unless you get a very good price.
  • Use position to gather information and control the size of the pot.
  • Use blockers to make it less likely you’ll run into hands that crush you.
  • Respect strong lines from opponents who could have you dominated, and learn to fold when you are behind.

There’s no mathematical calculation for reverse implied odds. The variables are too unknown, leaving you to make generalised assumptions about what and when hands and situations have reverse implied odds working against them.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Identify the Strength of Your Hand: Consider whether you have a hand that is usually ahead, or one that is easily dominated. If you have a drawing hand, are you drawing to the nuts, second-best hand, or something less?
  2. Consider Your Opponent’s Range: Always compare your own hand to your opponent’s range. Weigh up how many combinations they have that are behind and can pay you off, compared to combinations that have you dominated. What do their actions so far in the pot suggest about their hand strength?
  3. How Much do You Stand to Lose? Estimate how much, on average, you stand to lose when your opponent has a higher version of your hand. Can you easily fold, or will you be committed to calling multiple streets of betting? Can you use position and pot control to see a cheap showdown?
  4. Stack Sizes: Just like hands with implied odds, reverse implied odds are exaggerated when stacks are deep, purely because you stand to lose more chips overall when you run into a stronger hand. Consider stack depth and SPR when deciding how much impact reverse implied odds should have on your decisions.

Reverse Implied Odds vs Implied Odds

Implied odds are the theoretical amount you stand to gain on future streets when you have the strongest hand. For example, a nut flush draw has excellent implied odds. When you hit your flush, you can be confident you are ahead and can get paid off by weaker flushes.

When you have decent implied odds, you can even pay a little over your pot odds, knowing that you can pull in a huge pot when you hit.

Reverse implied odds are the opposite of implied odds, referring to situations where you’re likely to lose chips in the long run because your hand is easily dominated. In this case, it is your opponent who benefits from the implied odds.

For example, consider that instead of the nut flush draw, you now have a low flush draw. Even if you complete your flush, other players can have lots of combinations of higher flushes that have you crushed. You could end up losing a lot of chips in this spot.

When you have reverse implied odds, you’ll be incentivized to fold or keep the pot small to avoid becoming committed with a potentially dominated hand.

Reverse Implied Odds in Tournaments vs Cash Games

Reverse implied odds apply in both tournaments and cash games, but their impact is usually greater in cash games due to deeper stacks. With more chips behind, you risk losing a larger amount when your hand is dominated.

Reverse Implied Odds in Cash Games

  • Stacks are usually 100 big blinds deep or more, so reverse implied odds can cost you a greater amount.
  • Playing one pair hands for stacks is not recommended, especially with a weak kicker.
  • Drawing to non-nut hands, such as low flush draws, is more dangerous as you’ll lose more when you are beaten.
  • Pot control is crucial to avoid overcommitting with mediocre hands.

Reverse Implied Odds in Tournaments

  • Stack sizes vary constantly but generally tend to be shallower. Consider stack depth and SPR when you have reverse implied odds.
  • Reverse implied odds still matter, but the amount you stand to lose in any given hand is usually less.
  • With shallower stacks, you can often take more risks, such as moving all in with a mid-strength draw.

Common Mistakes Involving Reverse Implied Odds

Understanding reverse implied odds prevents you from losing huge pots in situations in which you didn’t have to be involved or committed in the first place. Neglecting the concept will leave you losing chips with hands that are dominated.

Here are the most common mistakes players tend to make involving reverse implied odds:

  1. Overvaluing One Pair Hands: Inexperienced players tend to get attached to top pair hands without considering their vulnerability with a weak kicker, especially with a pair of aces or kings.
  2. Playing for Weak Draws: Draws can be strong because when they hit, you can potentially win huge pots. With weak draws, though, this is not the case, and you could even be dominated. It’s a mistake to pay too much for weak draws.
  3. Ignoring Opponent’s Strength: Unless you have the nuts, there’s always a chance your opponent could have you beat. Ignoring their hand range and betting actions will leave you guessing as to whether you are ahead.
  4. Forgetting Stack Depth and SPR: When the stacks are deep compared to the pot (high SPR), reverse implied odds become amplified. Committing your stack with a weak or dominated hand here would be very costly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do reverse implied odds matter in poker?

Reverse implied odds make certain hands and situations less profitable. Ideally, you want to avoid stacking off with reverse implied odds against you, instead either folding or using pot control to make it to showdown.

How do reverse implied odds affect decision-making?

Reverse implied odds impact your decision-making because you should sway towards folding or using pot control when there’s a chance you are dominated, even when you have the correct pot odds to call.

Can reverse implied odds make a hand unprofitable?

Yes, reverse implied odds can make a hand that would otherwise be profitable, unprofitable. The amount you would lose when dominated can tip the scales even if you would have the right pot odds to call.

How to avoid getting trapped by reverse implied odds?

To avoid getting trapped by reverse implied odds, consider folding hands and spots when you are likely dominated, or use pot control in position to keep the pot small and make it to showdown.