07-14-05, LearnTexasHoldem:

Preflop Hand Percentages

Question: I have a question regarding pre-flop percentages. I have used the 2 / 4 rule regarding post-flop percentages and it has helped greatly. Is there a short-cut way to calculate winning percentages pre-flop? I have personally found that multiplying your outs by 8 works most of the time, but not all the time (for instance, pocket pair versus two over cards - 6 outs x 8 = 48% for overcards to win or pocket pair vs. pocket pair - 2 outs x 8 = 16% for lower pocket to win or AJ vs KQ - (which would actually be 5 outs because the A high is winning already) so 5 outs x 8 = 40%. for KQ to win. But it doesnt seem to work so well, for instance, when you have a pocket pair vs. an over- and under-card (QQ vs. AJ). I know there is some theory amidst all this, and maybe it is better to memorize percentages because whether it is AJ vs KQ or K10 vs. QJ or 1010 vs J9, it seems for the most part the percentages will be relatively close. Any ideas? Thanks.

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Answer: Here is a question and answer related to this: Odds Of Preflop Starting Hands It is easier just to memorize what the odds are of certain hands against other hands. You only have to memorize maybe four or five different numbers: pair vs pair, overcards vs pair, one overcard vs pair, overcards vs overcards, etc. Be careful though how you use this information.

These numbers are only useful if you go all-in since there is only one betting round. These numbers are pretty much useless if you are going to see the flop and have chips remaining. For example, sure the AK is around even money against 99 if you go all-in till the river, but not after the flop is T-4-3. Now the AK only has 6 outs to win. It could be incorrect to keep calling big bets because you think AK is supposed to win half the time against a smaller pair.

So you should learn these numbers for all-in play in no limit holdem, but don't value it too much for when you actually have enough chips to play.

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