What Does Long Odds Mean in Poker?
Long odds refer to the situation in poker where the probability of a particular hand or event occurring is low. In other words, the less likely it is for an outcome to happen, the longer the odds are said to be. Players often face long odds when they are hoping for a specific card draw that completes a rare or unlikely hand.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Long Odds
In poker conversations, you might hear about long odds when discussing improbable draws or when a player is betting on an unlikely outcome, such as hitting a runner-runner straight or flush.
In-Game Example
You hold 67 and the board is 95K2. You need an 8 to complete a straight on the river. The odds of hitting that 8 are long, making this a classic example of long odds.
Strategy / Tips
Best Practice: Recognize when the odds are long and weigh the potential payoff against the risk. Only chase long odds when the implied odds justify the gamble.
Common Mistake: Overestimating the likelihood of long-shot outcomes and committing too many chips to a low-probability situation.
Pro Tips: Use long odds situations to bluff effectively. Opponents may assume you wouldn’t bet heavily unless you made your unlikely hand.
Differences playing over the table vs online: Live players may give off tells when chasing long odds, while online players rely solely on betting patterns.
Alternative Names
Sometimes referred to as “low probability” or “unlikely draw”.
FAQs
Q: Should I always avoid playing hands with long odds?
A: Not necessarily. If the potential reward outweighs the risk, or if you can effectively bluff, playing long odds can be justified.
Q: How do I calculate long odds in poker?
A: Use the rule of 2 and 4 to estimate odds. Multiply your outs by 2 if there’s one card to come or by 4 if there are two cards to come.
Related Terms
Implied Odds
Outs
Bluffing
