by rdale » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:36 pm
On the value of implied odds...
Implied odds are not certain, that much is for sure, hence the term implied. I base a good deal of my game around implied odds, the key to properly utilizing implied odds is understanding your opponent.
Against a tight passive opponent I don't strive to get implied odds, they will likely fold to a big bet, you don't really want to play less than a very strong hand against them, one that you know you can milk.
Loose passive players however, implied odds are great, middle pair may be good if you hit the Q in your hand, they pay off your draws for big bets and take far worse flush draws than Q high if you wind up hitting the same draw. They also tend not see the limitation of the value of their hand so you can get more than your hand really deserves when you do hit, they will over play an obviously beat hand.
Tight aggressive players that stick around past the flop, I want to have a hand that can make the nuts. Especially if we hit the same draw, you have to assume they have K high if they go ape and you hold Q high, and try to get to a cheaper showdown. They won't always have the nuts or the second nuts, but they will hold it often enough that I slow down a bunch.
Loose aggressive opponents. Implied odds especially when they have a big stack is critical, even more so when you both have big stacks. Q high will often be the best of the two flushes if you share a flush. Middle pair with either the QJ may be good. You have to becareful and look for weird straights and odd two pairs and not over play your hand. Playing these in a raised pot against a deeper stack LAG is fine, especially with position. If they only have a buy in or less I don't worry about it and stick with playing tight until they have something really worth winning, they will hand over the money soon enough.
Requirements to play the implied:
Raised pots
LAG that has me covered is a good start.
Deep stack over 2x the buy in with me having 1.5 to 2x the buy in against every one else.
Unraised pots:
I don't have much requirements, except the above statements detailing how much i think I can get from different opponents.