[EverettKings]

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Eastbay, what percentage of the time that you are holding pocket 9s will the flop come with no over cards? Do you think that this is something that ever poker player should know?

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I think they should have a useful knowledge of this kind of information. An number like 4.02% does not fit the profile.

eastbay

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Unless you are holding pocket 6s.

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You're missing the point pretty solidly, I think. They key is not the number but the word "useful".

eastbay

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I think eastbay's saying that having a general idea of these percentages is important, but exact numbers are a complete and utter waste of time. Obviously an AKQ and a T52 flop are drastically different overcard flops for 99, for example.

I have never, ever, ever used exact percentages while at a table to make a decision. The closest I've come is calling all ins with a draw, I count my outs and get an idea if my pot odds are roughly enough. Numbers are so dynamic that memorizing specific spots will only make you fixated on making that spot apply to your calculations, instead of calculating based on that specific spot. Obviously you're a good enough player that you're using reads and pot/bet sizes and information like that in your decisions, but by memorizing and concentrating on some ten-commandment set of percentages you'll find yourself going with your reads less, playing your opponent less, and otherwise losing the color from your game.

I do think doing calculations like these away from the table can help you get a feel for where you stand during a hand, but at the core they aren't what makes you a great player.

Everett