Size up Stacks for Implied Pot Odds
Poker players have to calculate the pot odds to figure out whether not to call a bet. Sometimes the pot odds are not favorable but marginal, making for a tough decision. However, in these situations the player needs to take into account implied pot odds - just how big the pot may get after fourth and fifth streets.
The one way to gauge implied odds is to assess the other players’ stacks who are still in the action. Basically, in a No Limit online poker game, those stacks represent the maximum chips that could go into the pot. When there are only small stacks still in contention, then the pot is not going to get very big, so the implied odds are not favorable either. It is not worth chasing a flush or a straight.
Drawing and speculative hands are only going to be profitable if there is the possibility of a lot of chips going into the pot. Usually when a big stack enters a hand, it will chase off weaker poker online players with drawing hands, and you could be in a heads-up contest calling a big stack with the potential for a winning a lot more chips if you complete your hand on the turn or river.
When faced with a calling decision, size up the other stacks that could still be involved and take implied odds into account.
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