The Hypothetical Hands

So let's begin with an eight-player game. Everyone has anted one euro, and in our game, the low card on board will have to start the action with a one euro bet:

Andy

Bob

Chuck

Dave

Ed

Frank

Greg

Hal

In a real game, of course, none of these players would know what cards his competitors have in the hole. So we'll analyze the quality of the decisions made in this hypothetical hand based on the information an actual player would possess.

Andy sees that he holds three cards to a straight, and also two to a flush. Having two cards to a flush adds slightly to the value of Andy's hand, but not much-probably much less than most players think. Another problem for Andy is that his 3-straight is composed of three low cards. His hand would be much better if it were something like J-Q-K, which would still be a 3-straight, but which could also improve to a high pair. If Andy makes a pair, it will be a low pair. So the value of Andy's hand comes mostly from his chances of making a straight. Fives and Nines are thus very important cards for Andy, and as he looks around the board, he sees only one of these cards out, the Nine in Bob's hand. He doesn't know that Frank has one of the Fives he needs.

Bob is very happy with his hand. A pair of Queens is a very good starting hand in seven stud, and because both of them are hidden, no one has any idea of the strength of his hand. He looks around the board and sees no one else has a Queen or a Nine, a happy situation that improves his chances of getting one of those cards later. He has no way of knowing that Greg holds one of his Queens in the hole, of course, and will never know unless Greg remains in the hand until the end and then shows his cards.