Pokertits.com – Tits and Poker

Many players get themselves a small wired pair (their two hole cards are the same) like 44 or 66 and are whole heartedly rooting for that set (flopping 3 of a kind). But what truly are the odds of flopping that hidden powerhouse, along with some other popular starting hands.

Lets start off with a hand like “big slick” or Ace/King. The odds are pretty good against all the other hands we will talk about. 1 in 3 times you will end up flopping an ace or a king, which gives you a dominating hand with “top Pair”.? Your chances of hitting the ace or the king on the? turn or river? if you miss it on the flop is a bit less, 1 in 4.

How often do you hit that ever so powerful “set” when dealt a pair? The odds are 1 in 8. So 87.5% of the time, if you have a low pair, you are going to be dealing with overcards. If you miss the flop and are still determined to hold on to your small, weak pair, you have a 1 in 24 chance of catching it on the turn. About 96% of the time you will miss the turn. Don’t let small pocket pairs, cost you money!!!

A lot of people like to play connectors, like a 78, or a 45. But what are the odds of hitting a straight with those kinds of hands? To make a straight on the flop is 1 in 76. But, if you flop an open ended straight, your chances of hitting that straight are 1 in 3 that it will come on the turn or river. Definately a pot-odds based hand. Something you wouldn’t call 3x the blinds late in a tourney, but if you are the bb and a monster hand checks to set the trap, you might be ok.

What about suited hands and making the flush. A lot of players will not play an ace rag, but if its suited they will play any ace, 23456789 without hesitation. So, what are your odds of making the flush? To hit the flush on the flop is a whopping 1 in 119! So, ace rag is still potentially ace rag, even when it is suited. If you do catch two of your suited cards on the flop, you have about a 1 in 3 shot of making it. Don’t get caught up in suited hands, when the pot gets expensive!!!

Making a full house is a great way to take down a monstrous pot, but with four hearts out there on the turn or something like a 9-10-J-Q, your two pair or trips are probably running behind. Going to the river, you’ll fill up two pair just 1 time in 11 ? usually not worth a try. Trips however, will fill 1 time in 4.5 and that’s any easy call.