Questions about implied odds

DawgBones

DawgBones

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How do you know if you have implied odds to call or raise while on a drawing hand if you're new or fairly new to a table or can't quite get a good read on your opponent? This can be for cash games or an MTT when you get switched to a different table. Also what are some specifics that you look for in an opponent to let you know he'll pay you off if you hit your straight or flush? Any examples?
 
slycbnew

slycbnew

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Implied odds is alot about reads rather than not having reads, so here are some general thoughts...

You've seen Villain call all in w an overpair/TPTK in some prior hand. Best possible indication that you have good implied odds. When you see someone do this, you should take a note that he does this - but make sure you also note who he's doing it against and what the circumstances are.

Villain's opening range is very narrow. If Villain only opens 7% of his hands utg (I'm taking it to an extreme), his range is 88+, ATs+, KTs+, AQo+. A significant portion of his range is so strong preflop that he may not be willing to let it go postflop if he flops well. Contrast that w someone who's opening 20% of his range in MP - that range is much broader, the chance for Villain to "fall in love w his hand" is much worse, your implied odds drop cuz there's a greater chance he'll fold.

What have your actions been in the hand so far? Is it obvious you were drawing (i.e., you were playing passively) and that the turn or river card complted your draw? Or were you the aggressor, so you could've been betting top pair or an overpair rather than a draw?

How obvious will it be that you hit whatever you needed to hit? If you're drawing to a flush and the flush hits, it generally doesn't pay off all that well, you don't have to be a genius to figure out that you hit a flush if you weren't aggressive and suddenly become aggressive after the flush completes. Hidden straight draws are awesome for implied odds, cuz they're much less obvious than flushes.

Does Villain think it likely that you're bluffing? Or does he think that any time you bet you've got the nuts? If the latter, your implied odds are roughly zero.
 
DawgBones

DawgBones

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Implied odds is alot about reads rather than not having reads, so here are some general thoughts...

You've seen Villain call all in w an overpair/TPTK in some prior hand. Best possible indication that you have good implied odds. When you see someone do this, you should take a note that he does this - but make sure you also note who he's doing it against and what the circumstances are.

Villain's opening range is very narrow. If Villain only opens 7% of his hands utg (I'm taking it to an extreme), his range is 88+, ATs+, KTs+, AQo+. A significant portion of his range is so strong preflop that he may not be willing to let it go postflop if he flops well. Contrast that w someone who's opening 20% of his range in MP - that range is much broader, the chance for Villain to "fall in love w his hand" is much worse, your implied odds drop cuz there's a greater chance he'll fold.
What is
What have your actions been in the hand so far? Is it obvious you were drawing (i.e., you were playing passively) and that the turn or river card complted your draw? Or were you the aggressor, so you could've been betting top pair or an overpair rather than a draw?

How obvious will it be that you hit whatever you needed to hit? If you're drawing to a flush and the flush hits, it generally doesn't pay off all that well, you don't have to be a genius to figure out that you hit a flush if you weren't aggressive and suddenly become aggressive after the flush completes. Hidden straight draws are awesome for implied odds, cuz they're much less obvious than flushes.
For example, playing middle suited connectors now and again? Or
even connectors for that matter depending on position?
Does Villain think it likely that you're bluffing? Or does he think that any time you bet you've got the nuts? If the latter, your implied odds are roughly zero.

So is it a good idea to show a bluff early and cheap in order to help get money in the pot later?
Thanks for the help Sly!:)
 
slycbnew

slycbnew

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It can be - I never show my cards unless there's a showdown, but some players do this intentionally for that purpose.

Do you use a HUD? I look at the player's aggression levels to determine whether he's aggressive or passive postflop. Someone who has an aggression factor of 2 or less doesn't usually bet draws strongly, they usually call with draws (if they were betting draws, their aggression factor would be higher). So when draws complete and that Villain type starts getting aggressive, I usually let my TPTK type hands go. Someone w an aggression factor of 5 or higher bets draws strongly - so when draws complete and that Villain type starts getting aggressive after previously being passive, I will hang around or push w TPTK type hands cuz I think a bluff is likely.

Understanding how you appear as a Villain to the other player makes a difference too. If you show up in their HUD as a passive player, they may be more likely to try and bluff etc.
 
W

wetyeti

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Take a glance at the villians stack as well. How much can you get off that stack?

In MTTS I rarely use implied odds unless ive been at the table for awhile. I dont want to commit chips unless I have a solid read that i'll get paid off. I play a bit tight though. Honest, really tight, jacks or better, scouts honor.
 
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