16 Jul 2025 Intermediate This material is for medium-skilled players equity pot odds probabilities Reverse implied odds are the opposite of regular implied odds. With implied odds, you estimate how much you can win if your draw hits. But with reverse implied odds, you estimate how much you can lose if your draw hits but your opponent ends up with a better hand. Reverse implied odds show how much you might lose even when you hit your draw. When you have a drawing hand, you usually look at your pot odds to decide if calling is profitable. If your pot odds are not good enough, you may check your implied odds — hoping to win more money later if you hit. But even if you think the implied odds are good enough to call, you should also think about your reverse implied odds. This helps you avoid losing more money when your draw completes but still isn’t good enough. Let’s look at how this works. Example of Reverse Implied Odds Suppose you have and the flop comes . It's a multiway pot, and someone bets. Now you have a straight draw. But if one player bets and another calls, you should ask: “Will my hand really be the best if I hit my straight?” Let’s say a or comes. You complete your straight — but a flush is also possible. Your opponent could easily have two hearts and make a flush. Even worse, if the comes, your opponent might make a higher straight. So this is a classic reverse implied odds spot: you might hit your draw, but still lose a big pot because your hand is not actually best. If your pot odds are not good enough to call, and you also have reverse implied odds working against you, you should fold. On average, folding here saves you money. Other Reverse Implied Odds Scenarios There are other spots where you must watch out for reverse implied odds: Weak flush draws. For example, holding on a board. Even if you make a flush, it might not be the best one. An opponent could easily have or . Low straight draws. Chasing the bottom end of a straight can also be dangerous, especially when others may be drawing to the top end. For example, on a board. Flush or straight draws on paired boards. You might hit your draw — but someone else could already have or make a full house. In general, weak flushes and low-end straights carry higher reverse implied odds. The Math Behind Reverse Implied Odds Unlike regular pot odds or implied odds, reverse implied odds are hard to calculate precisely. You can’t plug them into a formula. But you can still understand the idea: Reverse implied odds go up when there’s a higher chance your draw will be second-best. Reverse implied odds go down when you are more confident your draw will be the best hand. Basic rule: If your pot odds are good, you can sometimes call even with reverse implied odds, but if both your pot odds and reverse implied odds are bad, folding is the smart move. Final Thoughts Reverse implied odds are not here to scare you. They’re a tool to help you understand when you might lose money by chasing weak draws in the wrong spots. If you're in a pot against multiple players, ask yourself if your draw is strong enough. Will it really be the best hand if you hit? So slow down, think it through — and don’t be afraid to fold a draw when reverse implied odds are clearly against you. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
