Reverse Implied Odds
Reverse implied odds are the chips you may lose on later streets when you make a hand that is good but not the best. They are the opposite of implied odds, and they make a call less attractive than the pot odds show.
The simple explanation
Sometimes you hit your draw or make a pair, but your opponent has a better hand. You then lose more chips than you win. This makes some calls bad, even when the pot odds look good.
A closer look
Reverse implied odds are important with hands such as weak aces, low flushes and bottom pair, which can make a hand that is second best. For example, a low flush draw may complete and lose to a higher flush, and then you lose a big pot. Be careful of drawing to hands that are not the nuts, especially when the opponent will bet more when you hit. Keep reverse implied odds in mind when deciding whether to call with dominated hands.
A practical example
You call with a low flush draw, make your flush on the river and lose a big pot to an opponent who has a higher flush.
Full explanation
Reverse implied odds are the chips you may lose on later streets when you make a hand that is good but not the best. They are the opposite of implied odds, and they make a call less attractive than the pot odds show.
Reverse implied odds are the extra chips you may lose when you hit but are still behind.
They are the opposite of implied odds.
Draws to non-nut hands often have them.
Think of them when calling with dominated hands.
Alternative spelling: RIO
A flush draw can be dominated
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
A and B both have heart draws, but A’s king-high draw is dominated by B’s ace-high draw.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
A and B both have heart draws, but A’s king-high draw is dominated by B’s ace-high draw.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Both players complete a flush. A’s king-high flush is already behind B’s ace-high flush.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 24 chips
B bets 12 with the higher flush.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 182 · In this round 12
- Turn · Pot: 36 chips
A calls 12 with the lower flush.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 182 · In this round 12
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 182 · In this round 12
- River · Pot: 36 chips
The river does not change either flush.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)44 of clubs (4c)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 182 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 182 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 60 chips
B bets another 24.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)44 of clubs (4c)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 182 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 158 · In this round 24
- River · Pot: 84 chips
A calls another 24 and loses to the ace-high flush at showdown. Those extra 36 chips paid after completing a second-best hand illustrate reverse implied odds.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c)33 of hearts (3h)44 of clubs (4c)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of hearts (Jh) · Stack 158 · In this round 24
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 158 · In this round 24
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.