Two Plus Two Older Archives  

Go Back   Two Plus Two Older Archives > General Gambling > Probability

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-11-2002, 09:39 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default A stat I\'ve never seen posted...



The number of possible 5-card hands in poker is fairly common knowledge. However, there must necessarily be a smaller number of possible 7-card hands in poker, and I have never seen this stat displayed anywhere. Does anyone have this number and/or know a quick-and-dirty way to calculate it?


Big John


p.s. Just in case anyone is wondering why there are fewer 7-card hands than 5-card hands, it is because it is impossible to make a hand like TT442.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-12-2002, 05:02 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default What?



According to http://www.math.sfu.ca/~alspach/comp20/, there are 133,784,560 7 card hards and 2,598,960 5 card hands.


But I'm not sure that I understand your question correctly.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-12-2002, 10:28 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: A stat I\'ve never seen posted...



I believe he means 'the best 5 card poker hand from a total of 7 cards'.


(You couldn't have a hand like TT442 since either the remaining two cards are deuces giving a full house, or one of the remaining cards is higher than two and would be used as the kicker.)


I don't have the number, but you might find something helpful in a Pai Gow book.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-12-2002, 12:03 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: A stat I\'ve never seen posted...



why would the number of 'the best 5 card poker hand from a total of 7 cards' be any different than the number of possible 5 card hands?


either its the same exact number, or all 7 cards count, and TT442 IS possible (with other kickers as well).
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-12-2002, 02:49 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default uh...



the number of possible "best 5 cards out of 7 cards in a hand" hands would NOT include TT442, as a hand containing those cards would have at worst a 2 and a 3 in it as well, making the best hand TT443. If the extra cards were both 2's, then the best hand would be 222TT.


See?


~D



Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-13-2002, 12:00 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default i should know better than to post when im tired...



you're right.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-13-2002, 08:05 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Now you have! The answer may surprise you



I have been chewing on this calculation. My final result is 1,215,008 or only 47% of all possible 5 card hands. Details are below.


I was surprised at first that this percentage is so low, but it makes sense when you realize that there are a high percentage of hands with one of two ranks that must improve, usually 2 or 3. Even a rapid application of my 6% rule gives a crude estimation that 60% of hands must improve, but that gives an overestimate.


I suppose there may be some value in knowing the total possible hands you can make on the river in holdem, or on 7th street in stud. Perhaps Mr. Sklansky already knows this result and can verify it. Otherwise, if other's want to site it in future works, I will hereby name it the BruceZ number. If other's make minor corrections to the following calculation, the result shall still be called the BruceZ number [img]/images/smile.gif[/img]


Here are the details:


5 card hands which must improve with 7 cards:


HIGH CARD: Any containing a 2 or 3 and the specific hands 45679, 45689.


8*44*40*36*32/4! + 16*44*40*36/3! - 8C(12,4) -

2(4)^5 + 8 + 2(4)^5 = 840,848


The first term is for hands without a pair that have a 2 or 3 but not both. The second term is for both a 2 and a 3. Then I have subtracted off flushes and straights, then added back the 8 straight flushes so they aren't subtracted twice, then added in the specific hands.


1-PAIR: Any containing the 3rd kicker from the two lowest unpaired denominations. For example, 4459x must improve for x = 2 or 3. 2259x must improve for x = 3 or 4. Also the following must improve: 44567, 44568, 45567, 45568, 45667, 45668, 45677, 45688.


13*6*8*40*36/2 + 13*6*16*40 + 8*6*4^3 = 502,272


The first term considers kickers from one of two distinct denominations, and the second considers kickers from both denominations. I've considered all the specific hands at once in the last term.


2-PAIR: Any with with both pairs higher than 22 and a kicker of 2 must improve. If both pairs are higher than 22 and the kicker is not 2, then it does not have to improve since drawing 22 will not improve it. 2233x improves for x=4,5,6. 2244x improves for x=3,5,6. 2255x improves for x=3,4,6. 2266x improves for x=3,4,5. Other 2-pair hands with 22 improve for kickers of 3 or 4.


4(12*6)(11*6) + 4*6*6*12 + 8*6*6*8 = 23,040


The first term is for 2xxyy. The second term is the 4 specific hands with 3 kickers, and the third is the 8 specific hands with 2 kickers.


3-OF-A-KIND: Any with 2nd kickers of 2 or 3. Also, 22245, 22256, 33345, 33356, 44456.


13*4*8*40 + 13*4*16 + 5*4*4*4 = 17,792


The first term is for kickers of 2 or 3 but not both, and the second is for kickers of both 2 and 3. The last term is for the 5 specific hands.


Straights, flushes, full houses, and quads, would not have to improve.


TOTAL hands that must improve = 1,383,952


Total hands on river = C(52,5) - 1,383,952 = 2,598,960 - 1,383,952 = 1,215,008.


1,215,008/2,589,960 = 47%.



Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-13-2002, 11:26 PM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Now - quads can still improve i think *NM*




Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-14-2002, 01:11 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default nope - AAAA222 *NM*




Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.