SDSDNSR
SDSDNSR
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July 20th, 2015 at 12:36:59 PM permalink
EDIT:
OF course the problems are situationally dependent. Let me explain problem #1 more specifically. You get two hole cards. A flop sometimes comes up such that you know you would win in a showdown. For example, you flop a royal flush. But it is possible that you might flop a lower hand that is still guaranteed to win in a showdown. What is the lowest hand for which this would happen? If you are still confused, I have put the answer to #1 in a spoiler tag below.


ORIGINAL POST
Here are nine Texas Hold 'Em puzzles for you. Please hide your answers in spoiler tags. Add an explanation if you want to. When someone gets the correct answer, I will edit this post with a spoiler tag that includes the answer and gives credit. That way you won't have to keep checking through posts to find the answers.

Each puzzle has two parts:

Part one: Provide a five-card hand that solves the puzzle (allowing for the fact that there will be seven cards available). Give suits if needed. Examples:
5 5 5 2 2
9D 8D 7D 6D 5D

Part two: Provide an example of your solution. That is, show two hole cards, three flop cards, and, if necessary, one turn card and one river card, with suits, like this:
AS KH
QD JC TS
9H
8D


Here are the puzzles:

What is the lowest hand you could have that would be guaranteed to beat all others in a showdown?
1. After the flop
2. After the turn
3. After the river

What is the highest hand you could have that could possibly lose to someone else in a showdown?
4. After the flop
5. After the turn
6. After the river

7. After the river, how high a hand could you have that must lose to every other hand in a showdown?

8. After the river, how low a hand could you have that no one could beat, and at most one other player could tie in a showdown?

9. After the river, how low a hand could you have that could possibly beat someone in a showdown?

--SDSDNSR

ANSWERS

5S 4S 3S 2S AS (five high straight flush)
obtained in this way:
AS 5S
4S 3S 2S
Note that if you have a 5 high straight flush on the flop, you must hold both the AS and the 5S or you might be beaten.
Romes
Romes
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July 20th, 2015 at 1:23:50 PM permalink
Quote: SDSDNSR

...Here are the puzzles:

What is the lowest hand you could have that would be guaranteed to beat all others in a showdown?
1. After the flop


Very situationally dependent. If the flop is 2h-3d-4s the highest hand possible is a 6 high straight, but if it's Qd-Jd-10d the highest hand possible is a royal flush. So I'm going to assume this if for "X-X-X" flop. A bit of trickery in the wording... if your hand beats all others in a showdown then it's the highest hand possible. If there was anything higher the opponent could have it. After a 'generic/unknown' flop the lowest hand that beats ALL other hands is a royal flush. Without knowing the flop we must assume all flops are possible.


Quote: SDSDNSR

2. After the turn


See answer to #1 (with turn). Royal Flush


Quote: SDSDNSR

3. After the river


See answer to #1 (with river). Royal Flush


Quote: SDSDNSR

What is the highest hand you could have that could possibly lose to someone else in a showdown?
4. After the flop


Straight flush. Given all flops are possible you could have the ass-end of a straight flush and someone could have the top end (royal). An example would be a flop of Qd-Jd-10d. You have 9d-8d, and your opponent has Ad-Kd.


Quote: SDSDNSR

5. After the turn


See answer to #4 (with turn). Straight Flush


Quote: SDSDNSR

6. After the river


See answer to #4 (with river). Straight Flush


Quote: SDSDNSR

7. After the river, how high a hand could you have that must lose to every other hand in a showdown?


The highest hand you can have that would lose (or tie) every other hand would be if you play the board. Meaning your 2 cards are under the value of every card on the board. Example: You have 2-3, and the board is a rainbow 8-J-K-K-A.


Quote: SDSDNSR

8. After the river, how low a hand could you have that no one could beat, and at most one other player could tie in a showdown?


Full house where you also have both of the cards... Example: You have A-K, and the board is A-A-K-K-x, where x is lower than a king and a straight/royal flush is not available. You know no one can have quad kings because you have one of them. Only one other person could tie you with the last ace in the deck in their hand.


Quote: SDSDNSR

9. After the river, how low a hand could you have that could possibly beat someone in a showdown?


One rank higher than the board. If someone else "plays the board" meaning their cards are all lower than the board, and you have a card that beats just one of the ranks... Example: You have 5-2, your opponent has 3-2, and the board is rainbow 4-7-10-K-A. Here your opponent plays the board; the ONLY hand you can actually beat with your 5 kicker.
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
rsactuary
rsactuary
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July 20th, 2015 at 2:44:13 PM permalink
Unfortunately I'm heading out on vacation and don't have time to think through these, but I came up with a couple brain teasers myself a few years ago and posted them on a different message board.. and I hope I can add them here as number 10 and 11.

The set up...

You are playing NLHE at a 9 handed table on the button. Pre-flop every person at the table in front of you goes all-in. You look at your cards and see that you have AA.

10. What configuration of the 9 hands gives you the highest probability of winning the hand?
11. What configuration of the 9 hands gives you the lowest probability of winning the hand?

For determining the probabilities, let's use the calculator at http://twodimes.net/poker/
Zcore13
Zcore13
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July 20th, 2015 at 2:54:49 PM permalink
Quote: rsactuary

Unfortunately I'm heading out on vacation and don't have time to think through these, but I came up with a couple brain teasers myself a few years ago and posted them on a different message board.. and I hope I can add them here as number 10 and 11.

The set up...

You are playing NLHE at a 9 handed table on the button. Pre-flop every person at the table in front of you goes all-in. You look at your cards and see that you have AA.

10. What configuration of the 9 hands gives you the highest probability of winning the hand?
11. What configuration of the 9 hands gives you the lowest probability of winning the hand?

For determining the probabilities, let's use the calculator at http://twodimes.net/poker/



I would fold.


ZCore13
I am an employee of a Casino. Former Table Games Director,, current Pit Supervisor. All the personal opinions I post are my own and do not represent the opinions of the Casino or Tribe that I work for.
rsactuary
rsactuary
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July 20th, 2015 at 2:57:52 PM permalink
Quote: Zcore13

I would fold.

ZCore13



that does not answer the questions as stated.
Zcore13
Zcore13
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July 20th, 2015 at 3:05:04 PM permalink
Quote: rsactuary

that does not answer the questions as stated.



I'm a rebel sometimes.

ZCore13
I am an employee of a Casino. Former Table Games Director,, current Pit Supervisor. All the personal opinions I post are my own and do not represent the opinions of the Casino or Tribe that I work for.
Rigondeaux
Rigondeaux
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July 23rd, 2015 at 3:36:41 PM permalink
Would you really fold aces ZCore? Why? I'm assuming we're not at the final table of the wsop.

I'm guessing with the AA, we want the other hands to be pocket pairs that block each other's sets and straights.

JJ,JJ, 99,99, 66,66, 44, 44 or something like that.

The worst hands for us are gonna be much harder. I wonder if it's something like another AA to block us from sets. 22, 33,44 and some well distributed suited connectors.

I'll think about the earlier questions too.
Rigondeaux
Rigondeaux
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July 23rd, 2015 at 3:49:58 PM permalink
I don't know if this is THE worst, but it would suck. It looks like you need to pick on one of the AAs by putting all its suits in the lower PPs.

Zcore13
Zcore13
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July 23rd, 2015 at 3:55:34 PM permalink
Quote: Rigondeaux

Would you really fold aces ZCore? Why? I'm assuming we're not at the final table of the wsop.

I'm guessing with the AA, we want the other hands to be pocket pairs that block each other's sets and straights.

JJ,JJ, 99,99, 66,66, 44, 44 or something like that.

The worst hands for us are gonna be much harder. I wonder if it's something like another AA to block us from sets. 22, 33,44 and some well distributed suited connectors.

I'll think about the earlier questions too.



Yes, I would. Pocket Aces heads up I'll take all day everyday. Pocket Aces on a 10 handed game with everyone all in ahead of you win just under 32% of the time. I'm not putting all my chips in on a less than 1/3 chance of winning unless I'm really short stacked. I'm pretty confident I'll out play at least 7 of the 9 at the table in most cases..




ZCore13
I am an employee of a Casino. Former Table Games Director,, current Pit Supervisor. All the personal opinions I post are my own and do not represent the opinions of the Casino or Tribe that I work for.
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