Module 4 · Lesson 20 of 39 · Free
Groups of starting hands
Against one random hand, a pair of aces has 85.2% equity and seven-two offsuit (72o) has 34.6%; the very bottom of the 169 kinds of starting hands is three-two offsuit (32o), with 32.3%. Between them, the hands fall into six groups, and each group wins its pots in its own way.
The hand
Two deals: A♥ A♠, the best starting hand, or 7♣ 2♦. Either one goes all in against one random hand, and all five board cards are dealt.
Predict first
Of the 1,326 possible starting hands, how many are weak offsuit hands: two cards of different ranks and suits, no ace, and not both ten or higher?
- About one in ten
- About one in four
- More than half
Show the answer
Answer: More than half
720 of 1,326, or 54.3%: 60 kinds such as K♣ 9♦ and 7♣ 2♦, with 12 combinations each. More than half of your deals are hands like these.
Working it out
Pairs come in 6 combinations each, 13 × 6 = 78 hands, and every pair is at least even against a random hand: 22 has 50.3%, AA 85.2%. Big cards, two broadway cards ten or higher, are 10 × 16 = 160 hands, from 55.2% (JTo) to 67.0% (AKs). Suited aces, A9s down to A2s, are 8 × 4 = 32 hands with 57.4% to 62.8%. Suited connectors, T9s down to 32s, are another 32 hands, but they have only 36.0% to 54.0%. Weak offsuit hands are 60 × 12 = 720 hands, from 57.8% (K9o) down to 32.3%. The other 304 hands, the remaining suited hands and the offsuit aces, have 36.8% (42s) to 60.8% (A9o).
Each group wins in its own way. Pairs make sets; big cards make high pairs with good kickers; a suited ace makes the best possible flush; suited connectors make straights and flushes that are hard to see. Weak offsuit hands make weak pairs that cost money, so they are the first hands to fold. The next lessons take the groups one at a time: domination, pocket pairs, then connectors and broadway cards.
Formula
Hands in a group = kinds × combinations each (6 for a pair, 4 suited, 12 offsuit): suited aces 8 × 4 = 32
Check your understanding
How many starting hands are suited connectors from 54s up to T9s?
Show the answer
Answer: 24
54s, 65s, 76s, 87s, 98s and T9s are 6 kinds with 4 combinations each: 6 × 4 = 24.
Which group is K♠ 9♦ in?
- Big cards
- Weak offsuit hands
- Other hands
Show the answer
Answer: Weak offsuit hands
Two suits, no ace, and the nine is below ten: a weak offsuit hand.
Against a random hand Q♣ J♣ has 60.3% equity. Both players put 10 bb into the pot and all the cards are dealt. On average, how much of the 20 bb pot do you win, in bb?
Show the answer
Answer: 12.06 bb
Equity is your share of the pot: 0.603 × 20 = 12.06 bb, about 2 bb more than you put in.