WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

On pages 66 and 67 where Yao covers the case of runner-runner flush and provides out estimates, there is no distinction made between what are, in my opinion, drastically different situations.

In one situation, you have suited hole cards, and one of your suit on the flop gives you a backdoor draw. For example, you hold J [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] on a K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] flop.

In the other, you have unsuited hole cards, and two of your suit on the flop gives you a backdoor draw. For example, you hold J [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] on a K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] flop.

According to Yao, we are drawing to a 2nd or 3rd highest flush, and we should assign 1.5 outs to the backdoor. Is this the case for both situations? Shouldn't we be assigning more outs (maybe close to the full 2) for the first situation, while deducting for the second situation (maybe to just 1)?

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

Why would they be different? You are not drawing to the nut flush obviously, but each still has 9 outs. Always assume they are in the deck.

Are you saying that because there are 2 on the board, and you only have one, therefore more people could be drawing to the flush also and therefore you have to discount it? I don't think that matters.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

The first one is a much better hand to hit the flush on. A jack high flush is good when there are only three on the board, but when there are four on the board, any higher spade, by itself beats you. I don't know if i would count more outs or not, but i would much prefer the first hand to hit than the second.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

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According to Yao, we are drawing to a 2nd or 3rd highest flush, and we should assign 1.5 outs to the backdoor. Is this the case for both situations? Shouldn't we be assigning more outs (maybe close to the full 2) for the first situation, while deducting for the second situation (maybe to just 1)?

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Backdoor flush draws are 23:1 to hit, which is equal to 1 out with 2 cards to come. So, I don't know where you get "the full 2" idea.

1.5 outs is already generous.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

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The first one is a much better hand to hit the flush on. A jack high flush is good when there are only three on the board, but when there are four on the board, any higher spade, by itself beats you. I don't know if i would count more outs or not, but i would much prefer the first hand to hit than the second.

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Indeed, the first is better to have because it is less likely that someone else will also have 2 spades, BUT just speaking about odds, it does not matter a bit if you have 2 in your hand and one on the board, or 1 in the hole and 2 on the board, or even none in your hand and 3 on the board (not a backdoor draw though [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])! The odds of YOU getting a flush are the same in all of these cases. The odds of you having a WINNING hand will greatly vary though, with the first case being the best, then the second, and then the 3rd.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

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Backdoor flush draws are 23:1 to hit, which is equal to 1 out with 2 cards to come.

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Can you show your derivation?

I used:
10/47 you hit a flush draw on the Turn.
if you hit the flush draw, then you will have 9 outs.

10/47 x 9 outs = 1.91 expected outs

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

I think you have a good point. With one flush card in your hand and two on the board, I wouldn't bother to count any flush outs at all. The number of outs are the same in the two situations, but the other players will play the hand, and react to your hand differently. You could reduce the expected pot size, but for me, it would be easier not to count the flush outs at all.

With two flush cards in your hand, if you do hit the flush on the River, it will be hidden and a surprise. You are more likely to be paid off. On the other hand, with four flush on the board, you are less likely to be paid off, and also more likely to be trumped by a higher flush.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

That's what I was wondering... I discussed it with a friend, and he thought maybe you were talking only about the case where you have suited hole cards and one of your suit appears on the flop.

I think that in the case where two of your suit appear on the flop, if you hold the nut or 2nd nut backdoor flush draw, that we should still count those as outs, however, certainly not as much as for a nut or 2nd nut draw where you have suited hole cards. I'm gonna take a stab and estimate that they are worth about 1 out.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Backdoor flush draws are 23:1 to hit, which is equal to 1 out with 2 cards to come.

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Can you show your derivation?

I used:
10/47 you hit a flush draw on the Turn.
if you hit the flush draw, then you will have 9 outs.

10/47 x 9 outs = 1.91 expected outs

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Do you agree a backdoor flush draw is 23:1 to hit? 10/47 * 9/46 = 4.16% which is 23:1 against.

If so, look at any standard odds chart. 1 out with one card to come is 45:1 assuming 46 unseen cards. 1 out with 2 cards to come is 22.5:1 with 47 unseen cards (or 21.5:1 if there are 45 unseen cards).

Bingo. See Ed Miller's SSHE at p. 102 for confirmation on the math.

Anyway, I have seen Ed Miller (and I think Abdul) say a backdoor flush draw is worth 1.5 outs. But this has to do with:

1. The fact you can fold on the turn when you don't pick up a draw;

2. The fact that you get paid off relatively more often than a flopped 4 flush when you hit.

So the math "out" is inflated by 50% to 1.5 outs given these implied odds/game considerations.

But the math is a backdoor flush draw is 23:1 against which is equivalent to 1 out.

To say you have 1.91 outs on the flop means you have an 8% chance to hit your hand by the river. That's simply false with respect to backdoor flush draws. You don't have an 8% chance. You have a 4.16% chance.

Re: WOHEP: Backdoor flush outs estimates
 

Hi Binion, thanks for responding. I hope you don’t think I am questioning you. I just want to get to the bottom of possible differences, and I want to make sure I didn’t screw up something in my book. That wouldn’t be good. I would appreciate it if you could please take a look at this and let me know what you think.

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Do you agree a backdoor flush draw is 23:1 to hit? 10/47 * 9/46 = 4.16% which is 23:1 against.


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Yes, I agree with this.

I'm going to go through an example using DIPO because I think it will illustrate how the way I count outs works in accordance with DIPO. It is possible the number of outs may not work using other methods (maybe it is a case of mixing and matching different definitions). I haven't thought about using other methods since I don't use them, so if there is an inconsistency after the definitions are adjusted accordingly, please let me know.

Just to summarize the DIPO method for those that are unaware of it :
Good Number: Expected Outs x Expected Pot Size
Bad Number: Expected Non-Outs (also known as Unknown Cards minus Expected Outs)

If Good Number is greater than Bad Number, then you have pot odds to call.

Let's assume you have suited cards in your hand, and the Flop has one card of your suit. Let's assume you know for a fact that your backdoor flush will be good if you hit, but you have no other outs.

You estimate 10/47 x 9 as your expected outs and use 1.91 as the expected outs. And then you try to see how big you need the expected pot size to be in order for you to call. (note in DIPO, I suggest that you only count the bets accumulated on the Turn, but not all the way to the River as a way of estimation – and it is just that, just a quick estimation at the table)

Expected Outs = 1.91
Expected Non-Outs = 45.09

This means the Expected Pot Size must be greater than 23.6 small bets in order for a call to be correct.

1.91 x 23.6 = 45.1

So DIPO is saying you can call if you have greater than 23.5 to 1. That sounds fairly close to what you are claiming (22.5 to 1). I recommend rounding to either 2, 1.5 or 1 out. 2 for the highest backdoor flush draw (a little bit of the possibility of getting a ton of bets if someone else also has a backdoor flush draw – but more because it is easier to use 2 than 1.9 in your head). 1.5 for the 2nd and 3rd highest flush draws (lower than 1.9) and 1 for all other backdoor flush draws (to account for the times you get smacked down against another flush draw).

This recommendation is a quick and dirty estimation to add to the outs….I feel if using DIPO, it is fairly accurate.

I've got a head-ache now. Can't believe I did this on a Friday night, I guess that shows my lifestyle, eh? [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]