06-10-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

Calling with Implied Odds in Holdem

Question:

Okay this is a pot-odds question. This is a situation that is in one of your articles.You are playing in a full table, no limit cash game, with blinds of $0.50/$1.00. The blinds post and there are 3 limpers. You look down and find yourself holding Ks Ts in the button. You call and the SB folds and BB checks (pot is $5). The flop comes down: As 2s 5c.The BB bets 5 dollars and one limper calls making the pot 15 dollars. It would cost you 5 to proceed to the turn so you would be getting 3-1.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Okay you have 2-1 to hit by the river, but 4-1 to hit by the turn. You could use the 2-1 method if you knew he wouldn't bet on the turn, but you don't know that so I guess you have to use the 4-1 to method each street. At least that's what I think, and I think the article says that too. However, this is what a knowledgeable person has to say about this.

The mathematically correct play is to call...you are about a 2-to-1 underdog, and the pot is laying you a 3-to-1 price, so you make a profit over the long run by making this call.

As for your theory of throwing the hand away because your opponent rates to bet the turn, you are missing a huge factor. When you do make your flush on the turn, you WANT your opponent to bet into you, so I'd still make the call every time. If I hit it on the turn, then they will bet into me most of the time and I will get the chance to win a lot of money from them. If I miss, I can get away losing just that one bet, or when they do give me a free card I have another shot to make the flush or bluff them off the pot. Which is correct? Thx for the help in advance!

Justin

Answer:

Hi Justin

First I would say that you should disregard the 2 to 1 odds since that only apply when both players are all in. The 4 to 1 odds are what you should focus on here. What is not mentioned in your question is the concept of implied odds, which is very important in this situation. You have to decide how much money you think you can extract from your opponents on the turn and the river if you catch the flush. If you think that the action will die if another flush card comes, the call is always incorrect. This is highly unlikely though. For you to make the $5 call on the flop you must assume that you can make at least $5 on the turn and the river (You are 4 to 1 under dog. To call $5 you must win at least $25. The pot is $20 after you call the flop so you must win an additional $5). In most situations, this is very probable, thus making the flop call correct.

If you don't hit on the turn you have to do the math again. Say the first player leads out and bets the pot, which now is $20, and the next player folds. For you to call $20, you need to win a total of $100 (Again 4 to 1 odds of making the flush). If you call the $20, the pot is $60 - $40 short of the $100 you need to win. So the question is: Will you be able to extract at least $40 from your opponent if the flush card comes?

Your rating:

Click on the clover of your choice

User Rating: (0 Votes)

  • Share on Facebook
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us