Reverse implied odds
The money you stand to lose on later streets when you make your hand but the opponent makes a better one. Hands that make second-best hands — weak flushes, low straights, dominated top pairs — suffer from it.
Frequently asked questions
What are reverse implied odds?
The future cost of a hand that can improve and still lose — the opposite of implied odds. You hit the card you wanted, keep betting or calling, and find you were second best all along.
Which hands have bad reverse implied odds?
Dominated hands and weak draws: ace-rag against a strong range, a low flush draw against a player who may hold a higher one, and second-best straight draws. The card that completes your hand is often the card that makes theirs better.
How do you avoid the problem?
Prefer hands that make the nuts to hands that make something good: suited connectors over suited rag aces, high draws over low ones. If hitting your hand leads to a difficult, expensive decision, that is the reverse implied odds showing up before the money does.