So far, we've discussed Pot Odds preflop and post-flop.  Now we take it one more step.  I'm sure you have seen many players make a call when you've obviously made it bad odds for them to draw to their hand.  So why then do they call?  It is called Implied Odds. 

Oh jeez, he added another term.  Well, yes.  But since we're in learning mode, we're now building on the odds.  Because honestly, if you never took a chance and drew at a straight or flush, then you'd never be a winning poker player.  Nobody can just sit back and wait for the nuts and expect to win anything. 

Implied Odds is where you take into account how much MORE you can win if you hit your draw and the other guy calls your bet, or can be reasonably assumed to bet himself with an inferior hand. 

Lets say you put the other guy on trip aces, and you have a belly buster straight draw.  Something like you are holding 7-10, and there is a 5-6-8-A on the board.  So you'll hit your straight with either a 4 or an 9.  This is a hidden straight that he would never see, unless he is seriously paying attention, and he will probably bet out on the river, and will most certainly call any bet or raise you throw in.  So even though you only have 8 outs on the river, giving you a 16% chance of hitting it, which is about 1:5 to hit.....your implied odds are out of this world.  So you might call a reasonable bet to try and make a fortune.

Here's the numbers:  Only you two left in the hand, and there's 2000 in the pot.  Any bet over 1:5 is too much for you to call.  So the other guy bets out 1000.  Pot odds are now 3:1, and you're 1:5 on hitting.  Terrible pot odds.  BUT....if you hit the 4 or the 9, he'll certainly bet out at least 2000, and you'll raise to at least 4000, and he'll call.  Meaning, your 1000 call now is actually going to win at least 6,000 more chips.  So you're Implied Odds are 6:1, not 3:1, making the 1:5 call a little easier to understand. 

And honestly, in this case, you're probably going to win far more than 6,000, because with his trip Aces, he'll probably call an all in if he doesn't see the straight you just hit. 

OK, now we've discussed pot odds, and followed it up with implied odds.  Hopefully this helps you make decisions, and also keeps you from asking "How could you make that call?"  Believe it or not, every call is NOT a donkey call. 

And tune in tomorrow for the first edition of Ask Moses!