Gambling terms, explained straight

Poker

Implied odds

Implied odds measure whether a call is profitable by adding the chips you expect to win later to the money already in the pot.

Also called
Implied pot odds13
Applies to
Poker, especially drawing situations and multi-way pots12
When facing all-in
Implied odds are zero because no future betting can occur15
Key difference from pot odds
Pot odds use only the current pot; implied odds add estimated future betting16

Key points

  • A player compares the call cost against the current pot plus extra chips expected later if the draw hits16.
  • If the draw misses, the player expects to lose no further bets by folding; if it hits, the player expects to collect more betting1.
  • Implied odds are most relevant with strong draws and in pots where opponents are likely to keep calling24.

Example of implied odds

You hold a flush draw on the flop. The pot is $50 and your opponent bets $10, so pot odds are 6:1. Your chance of hitting by the river is about 4:1, so pot odds alone justify a call. But if the pot were only $20 and the bet $10 (pot odds 3:1), a call would be unprofitable unless you expect to win another $20 or more on later streets when your flush hits — that extra expectation is the implied odds.

Common questions

What are implied odds in poker?

Implied odds are the odds of calling a bet after factoring in the future chips you expect to win on later betting rounds if your draw hits, rather than using only the current pot size.16

How to calculate implied odds?

Add the current pot to the extra chips you expect to win if your draw completes, then compare that total to the cost of the call. There is no fixed formula because the future betting is an estimate.16

What are implied odds in sports betting?

In sports betting, implied odds refer to the probability implied by the odds on offer. For example, decimal odds of 2.00 imply a 50% chance. This is a different concept from poker's implied odds.

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Pot odds — pot odds use only the current pot and call cost, while implied odds add estimated future betting
  • Implied odds poker — the same term; this page covers the concept in detail
Poker Implied odds poker A deeper look at using implied odds in poker strategy. Poker Pot odds vs implied odds Compares the two concepts and when each applies. Poker Pot odds The basic calculation of call profitability using only the current pot. Poker Poker odds chart Quick reference for common drawing odds and pot odds. Poker Pot odds poker How pot odds are used in poker decision-making. Poker Pot odds vs equity Explains the relationship between pot odds and hand equity.

Sources

  1. Pot odds en.wikipedia.org Defines implied odds and distinguishes them from pot odds.
  2. Poker strategy en.wikipedia.org Describes when implied odds are most relevant in poker strategy.
  3. Glossary of poker terms en.wikipedia.org Lists 'implied pot odds' as an alternative name.
  4. Draw (poker) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Discusses implied odds in the context of drawing hands.
  5. PokerSkill: LLMs Can Play Expert-Level Poker without ... arxiv.org States that implied odds are zero when facing an all-in bet.
  6. Profit-Maximizing Poker Agents for No-Limit Hold'em arxiv.org Explains the calculation of implied odds as current pot plus future betting.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.