Advanced Strategies for Craps
and Poker
Billy J. Duke
Joel A. Johnson
Hand Rankings
High Card
No pairs, different suits
1 Pair
Two of a kind
2 Pairs
Two of a kind – twice
3 of a Kind
Three of a kind
Straight
Five cards in sequence
Flush
Five cards of the same suit
Full House
Three of a kind and two of another kind
4 of a Kind
Four of a kind
Straight Flush
Five cards in sequence in same suit
Which Game Do I Play?
• Texas Hold ‘Em will be the focus of today’s
presentation. It is the most prevalent game at
the current time.
• Some other games are available, such as
Omaha High-Low or Seven Card Stud at
certain locations.
Basic Game Play
• The 2 spots to the dealer’s left are the small
blind and the big blind.
• Two cards are dealt face down to each player,
these are your hole cards.
• A round of betting ensues, starting with the
player to the left of the big blind.
Basic Game Play (cont.)
• After burning a card, the dealer flips three
“community cards” face up, this is the flop.
• Another round of betting ensues.
• After burning another card, the dealer flips a
card face up, this is the turn, or 4th street.
• Another round of betting ensues.
Basic Game Play (cont.)
• The dealer flips over a 5th card, the river or 5th
street.
• A final round of betting occurs.
• Each player makes their best five card hand
using their two hole cards and the five
community cards.
• The player with the best five card hand is the
winner.
Limit or No Limit?
• This is your most important decision!
• Limit poker sets maximum betting amounts
for each round.
• No limit poker has no maximum betting
amount. You can go “all-in” at any time.
Limit Hold ‘Em
• In a 2-4 Limit game the small blind is $1 and the
big blind is $2. Minimum buy-in is usually $20, no
maximum.
• In a 4-8 Limit game the small blind is $2 and the
big blind is $4. Minimum buy-in is usually $40, no
maximum.
• Many 4-8 games are played with “half-kill”. If a
player wins two hands in a row the game changes
to 6-12 until a different player wins a hand.
No Limit Hold ‘Em
• In a 1-2 No Limit game the small blind is $1
and the big blind is $2. Minimum buy in is
usually $100 with a $200 maximum.
• In a 2-5 No Limit game the small blind is $2
and the big blind is $5. Minimum buy in is
usually $200 with a $500 or $1000 maximum.
Getting Started
• Go to the poker room counter and tell them
you want to play.
• If a spot is open they will direct you to the
table and assist you with getting chips.
• If an open spot is not available you will be put
on a waiting list and your name will be
announced when a spot is available.
Actions
• You are dealt 2 cards face down.
• When it is your turn, your options are:
– Check
– Call
– Fold
– Bet
– Raise
Check, Call, or Fold
• Check – You are not betting any money, you
are just passing on your chance to bet.
– Checking in Limit games allows you to slow down
aggressive opponents.
• Call – You must bet the amount that has been
bet by a player before you.
• Fold – You are unwilling to call the bet of a
player before you.
Bet or Raise - Limit
• The amount of your bet or raise is fixed in
Limit games.
• In a 2-4 Limit game the bet or raise limit pre
and post flop is $2. The bet or raise limit after
the turn and after the river is $4.
• In each betting round there is a maximum of 4
raises.
Bet or Raise – No Limit
• In a No Limit game the amount you bet or
raise is only limited by the amount of chips in
front of you.
Notes About Raising
• Proper way to raise
– Announce “raise” before action.
– One motion.
• String bet
– “I’ll see your bet and raise …”
– No multiple motions.
Showdown
• You do not have to show your hand if it is not
the winning hand.
• If you surrender your cards face down you are
automatically out of the hand.
• If you surrender your cards face up and you
have the best hand, even if you are not aware
of this, you will win the hand. This is known as
cardspeak.
The Rake
• The casino is going to collect some money for
supplying the room, the table, and the dealer.
• The “rake” is usually 10% of the pot, typically
up to a limit of $4.
Starting Hands
• Premium Starting Hands
– A-A, K-K, Q-Q, A-K, J-J, 10-10, 9-9, 8-8, A-Q, 7-7
• Good Starting Hands
– All Other Pocket Pairs, A-x Suited, K-Q
• Probability of Being Dealt A-A? K-K?
– (4/52)x(3/51) = 1/221
Starting Hands (cont.)
• In Limit play you must mostly play good hands
because it is almost impossible to bet anybody
out of the hand.
• In No Limit play you can make your
opponent(s) lay down a hand by using your
position and money.
Mathematics Before The Flop
Odds Against
Percentage
If you hold a Pair, at least one more
of that kind will flop
7.51 to 1
11.76%
If you hold no Pair, you will pair at
least one of your cards on the flop
2.08 to 1
32.43%
If you hold two suited cards, two or
more of that suit will flop
7.48 to 1
11.79%
After The Flop
• Critical Point – Decide if you will continue.
– Did the flop improve your hand?
– Do you have a pair, or better?
– Do you have a good draw to a flush or straight?
Example 1
• Suppose you have:
• The flop:
• Pretty safe flop, you have a great kicker
– Be careful for sets
Example 2
• Suppose you have:
• The flop:
• Be careful for straight draws (6-7 or J-10)
Example 3
• Suppose you have:
• The flop:
• Be very careful for made straights or 2 pairs
Example 4
• Suppose you have:
• The flop:
• Be very careful for straight and flush draws
Mathematics After The Flop
Odds Against
Percentage
If you have four cards to a Flush you will
make the flush
1.86 to 1
34.97%
If you have Two-Pair you will make a Full
House or better
4.97 to 1
16.74%
If you have Three-of-a-kind you will make a
Full House or better
1.99 to 1
33.40%
If you have a Pair at least one more of the
kind will turn up (on the last two cards)
10.9 to 1
8.42%
Outs
• Outs are cards that will improve your hand to
possibly win the hand.
• Open-ended straight draw, say 6-7-8-9, then
any 5 or 10 would make a straight. Since there
are four 5’s and four 10’s you have 8 outs.
• Inside straight draw (gut shot), such as 8-9-J-Q
would give you 4 outs, the four 10’s.
• Flush draws have 9 outs, 13 of a suit minus the
four in your hand.
2-4 Rule
• Before the turn multiply the number of your
outs by 4 to find your chance of winning,
expressed as a percent.
• After the turn multiply the number of your
outs by 2 to find your chance of winning,
expressed as a percent.
2-4 Rule (cont.)
• For example, if you have 9 outs.
– Probability of getting your card on the turn is
(9/45) = 0.2
– Probability of getting your card on the river
providing you didn’t get it on the turn is
(36/45)x(9/44) = 0.163636…
– 0.2 + 0.163636… = 0.3636…
– Approximate 36% chance of getting your card
2-4 Rule (cont.)
• If you have 9 outs with only the river left:
– (9/44) = 0.204545…
– Approximately 20% chance of getting your card
– 0.204545/9 = 0.0227272
– Actual multiplier would be 2.2727…