What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

OK, here's an interesting theoretical question. Let's say you hold 22 in the BB. It is folded to the button, who limps, and the SB completes, you check. Let's say the flop is K73r. What is the probablity that neither the Button nor the SB holds a pair (including hands like 44 or AA)?

EDIT: I guess the easiest way to do this is to write down every possible hand that beats 22, and calculate the probabilities.

EDIT2: Perhaps this can be extended to what if you held 44? 88? Perhaps this would be helpful in determining postflop decisions with low pairs.

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

Interesting question, I'll take a shot:

I'll find the probability that 2 hands do not have pairs given a flop that is not paired. I'll ignore the extra info you get from knowing your hand is 22.

prob 1st card of 1st hand doesn't pair flop: 40/49
prob 2nd card doesn't pair flop or 1st card: 36/48

prob 1st card of 2nd hand doesn't pair flop or either card of 1st hand: 32/47
given this, prob 2nd card doesn't pair first or flop: 34/36

prob 1st card doesn't pair flop but pairs one of the cards of 1st hand: 6/47
given this, prob 2nd card...: 35/46

((40/49)*(36/48)) * ((32/47)*(34/46) + (6/47)*(35/46))

= 36.76%

where did I screw up? [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

EDIT: I think the probability that they don't have a pair will be slightly less given that you have a pocket pair

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

I was thinking more along the lines of adding the probabilities of a player having AK, KK, KQ, KJ, KT, etc.

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

Turns out to be the same thing, only your way is a little more tedious [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Unless I made a mistake, I'm effectively adding up all possible hands that don't pair divided by all possible hands.

Now if you wanted to find out the probability that you were ahead when you had something like 88, the probability would be greater because you can include times your opponent makes a pair smaller than 8. Then maybe your approach would be needed. But in that case the answer would also depend on the specific flop.

For your original question (again, I may have made error) 22 will be beating 2 random hands a little over 1/3 of the time.

Insomnia strikes again!
 

Playing poker all night, now I can't seem to sleep [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]
I know I'm talking to myself here, but this is the exact answer to the problem using the fact that our hand is 22.

In situation A, hand 1 does not contain a 2, prob. is (36/47)*(34/46)
In B, hand 1 does contain a 2, prob. 2*(2/47)*(36/46)

a) If the 1st card of hand 2 doesn't pair flop or hand 1's cards, and isnt a 2:
For A, prob. is (28/45)*(32/44)
For B, prob. is (32/45)*(32/44)

b) 1st card pairs a card in hand 1, isn't a 2:
A, (6/45)*(33/44)
B, (3/45)*(33/44)

c) 1st card is a 2:
A, (2/45)*(34/44)
B, (1/45)*(35/44)

P =
P(A)*(P(a|A)+P(b|A)+P(c|A)) + P(B)*(P(a|B)+P(b|B)+P(c|B))
= (43!/47!)*( 36*34*(28*32+6*33+2*34) + 2*2*36*(32*32+3*33+35) )

=37.12%

Which is slightly more than using the easier way. I predicted it would be less: if you have a pocket pair shouldn't it be more likely that your opponents have pairs?

Anyone want to speculate why having a pair makes it slightly less likely that your opponents do? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

Cat, that link goes to a foreign site, that I belive says this link doesn't exist.

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

[ QUOTE ]
The probability of not holding it is 1-(6/C(50,2)). The probability for 2 palyers not to hold a specific pair will be 2(1-(6/C(50,2)).

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure why you think you can add here but it's not correct. Do you think its twice as likely that two players won't hold a specific pair? Shouldn't it be less likely?

1-(6/C(50,2)) is the probability that a player doesn't hold a specific pocket pair, the question is how often do two players not have any PP and not pair the flop.

Unless someone can show me a mistake, I'm pretty sure my way is correct and necessary. Look at the first way I did it if you want to see my method.

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

I'm tired so I probably messed up somewhere but I make it ~36%.

This assumes that they play any 2 cards.
There are 47 unknown cards.

C(47,2) = 1081 (Possible hands)
C(38,2) = 703 (Possible hands that miss the flop (but may include a pp))

K, 7, and 3 are accounted for. 22 is in your hand. That leaves 9 other possible pocket pairs. 6 ways each = 54 total. Add 1 for the remaining 22 combo = 55 total pocket pair combos.

703-55 = 648 hands that miss the flop and aren't a pocket pair.

648/1081 = 0.5994449584 (chances that 1 opponent misses and has no pp)

0.5994449584^2 = 0.3593342581 (chances that both opponents miss and have no pp)

In reality opponents rarely play any 2 so the chances are probably better that they missed.

Re: What\'s the probability that the flop missed everyone?
 

You hold 22 flop is K73. The odds of your opponent holding a pocket pair is 5.51% so the odds of neither holding a pocket pair is 89.3%. The odds of none of the 4 outstanding hole cards being a K73 are C(38,4) divided by C(47,4)= 41.4%. (note: slight inaccuracy since I am counting cases of pocket pairs in both the numerator and denominator) 89.3% times 58.6%=52.3%

So you are beat by a pocket pair 10.3% of the time, with a small chance of tying versus 22, and beat by a flopped pair 52.3% when there are no pocket pairs. You are holding the best hand 100-52.3-10.3=37.5% of the time versus 2 random hands. Note: Your actual odds might be improved since neither the button or small blind elected to raise preflop eliminating most pocket pairs and several combinations with kings.