This is not what I expected

[ddubois]

I would have thought this would be a case where 88 out-performs 99, since in the latter case, A8 has the apportunity to catch trips to win. There's no ace-high straight blocking cards in 99. What is accounting for the difference: double paired boards with 99 being one of the pairs while holding 88? That doesn't seem like it's anywhere near enough to compensate for the possiblty of trips (and an extra 1.2% on top of that!)

Hand 1: 30.0336 % 28.67% 01.37% { Ac8s }
Hand 2: 69.9664 % 68.60% 01.37% { 88 }

Hand 1: 28.8236 % 28.64% 00.18% { Ac8s }
Hand 2: 71.1764 % 71.00% 00.18% { 99 }

[grimel]

How about because if any A hits you only have the case 8 for a win while with the 99 you have TWO 9's to beat the A?

[sthief09]

if A8 catches an A, 88 has 1 out and 99 has 2

[ddubois]

Oh, duh.

[DemonDeac]

pot.tat.OWNED