All right, I just thought of this, and rather than sitting at work and working it out, I decided that I’d post it to rgp and let y’all stew on it for a bit.

Scenario:

You’re down to your last few chips in a no-limit holdem tournament. It’s your big blind, and you’re all-in for the exact amount of the big blind. You’re heads-up, and the small blinds checks his cards, says in a gleeful tone, You’re all-in? Oh good!” (sorry Beth:>), calls, and flips over AsAh. Now, time freezes and the Powerful and Yellow Poker Fairy appears on your shoulder. She says: “I’m here at the request of the Great Fuzzy Poker God, to give you a chance to influence this hand. You can pick any hand you want for your hand, except for the other two aces.” What is your choice?

Answer 1:

Well, every time *I’ve* seen the poker fairy, *HE* has told me to go play craps, however I may be confusing this with really late nights at BARGE. Without running this through anything but intuition, I’m thinking 8-9 scooted in a suit different than either of the Aces my opponent holds. This lets me make the nut flush, nut straight any way, and two pair. I’m thinking 9-T would be SLIGHTLY worse because the AA could catch TJQK on board to make a bigger straight.

Answer 2:

Ok, you want a hand that will match the most number of boards without giving the Aces a better hand. Consider the following,

1. Obviously, any pair is an equal underdog to the Aces–only a set would help.

2a. you’d want two suited cards in clubs or diamonds. That way, any board with 3 or 4 of that suit makes you a flush.

2b. you’d want two unsuited cards–a club and a diamond. That way, if 4 of either of those suits hit the board, you’d have a flush.

3. You’d want a hand with a card no less than 10 in it.  That way, if 5 cards come in your suit, you’d be creating a better flush than the board.

4. If you had a hand with a 6 in it, you’d win when the board comes 2-3-4-5-x (x is not 6).

5. You want connected cards between 5 and 9, allowing for the most winning straights possible.

6. You don’t want an Ace in your hand, since it will be a dead card.

Which is more likely, a board with 4 of either of your two suits or a board with 3 of your one suit? Then, which is more likely, a 5-suit board in your suit(s) (you want high cards) or 2-3-4-5-x (you want medium cards)? I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but I’d guess that 6c7c would be my hand of choice.

Answer 3:

I believe JJ is the statistical favorite over even the other AA in this question. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t have an explanation. I have seen it work several times (usually in HUGE pots). If anyone has the book “Winner’s Guide to Texas Hold’em” by Ken Warren, it is stated in there.

I have just started playing the Planet Poker 7 stud Hi Lo with a forced bring in by the low card. As a stud newbie I was wondering how much of a factor position plays in this game. It seems to me that if you are last to act behind the bring in you may be able to expand the range of playable hands. Maybe some of you stud experts can expand on this. For example say you hold (8,6)3. If you are first to act after the bring in this appears to me to be an easy fold. However if you are last to act and 4 or 5 others have limped in is it worth paying half a small bet to see one more card?

Answer 1:

In any position, 863 is a very dangerous hand. Many good players would fold it, unless it was perhaps 2 suited. In any position.

Answer 2:

Though position onThird Streetmay affect your playing decisions somewhat, remember, in stud position in fluid. What happens onFourth Streetwhen the player to your right pairs his door card or hits an ace, and you are now possibly in the worst position for the rest of the hand?

Answer 3:

Anyone who thinks position isn’t important in this game has never been caught in a jam sandwich between the made high and the made low — or has never had to decide whether to raise or call with her nut hand when there is one more person to act between her and the initial bettor.