
Reason #3 why the Wizard likes Bovada:
Excellent Odds
In my opinion many online casinos are too stingy when setting the odds on their games. They think they will make more money that way but I believe they are misguided, because when players lose too quickly it’s not fun, and those players might not come back.
Bovada is one of the few casinos that understands this. They offer generous odds to let you play longer and get you a better chance of winning. Among their generous offerings are Full-Pay Jacks or Better returning 99.54%, six other video poker games paying over 99%, single-zero roulette, and my favorite, Pick ’em Poker, returning 99.95%!
Kudos to Bovada for not being afraid to give their players a good gamble.
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Texas Hold’em Probabilities for Eight Players
Last Update: Dec 16, 2006
The following table ranks the top hands in an 8-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.
Explanation of column headings.
- Cards: Initial two-card hand.
- Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
- Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 8 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
- Expected value: This is how many units the player can expected to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $2.09.
- Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
- Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.
Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 8-Player Game
|
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
| Pair of A's | 39.05% | 7.94 | 2.099 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 33.26% | 7.92 | 1.6328 | 0.45% | 0.9% |
| Pair of Q's | 28.71% | 7.88 | 1.2628 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| A/K suited | 26% | 7.67 | 0.9953 | 0.3% | 1.66% |
| Pair of J's | 25.13% | 7.84 | 0.9705 | 0.45% | 2.11% |
| A/Q suited | 24.51% | 7.6 | 0.8628 | 0.3% | 2.41% |
| K/Q suited | 23.72% | 7.61 | 0.8043 | 0.3% | 2.71% |
| A/J suited | 23.41% | 7.53 | 0.7616 | 0.3% | 3.02% |
| Pair of T's | 22.32% | 7.79 | 0.7395 | 0.45% | 3.47% |
| A/K unsuited | 22.68% | 7.61 | 0.7264 | 0.9% | 4.37% |
| K/J suited | 22.66% | 7.53 | 0.7073 | 0.3% | 4.68% |
| A/T suited | 22.55% | 7.45 | 0.6803 | 0.3% | 4.98% |
| Q/J suited | 22.1% | 7.52 | 0.6622 | 0.3% | 5.28% |
| K/T suited | 21.87% | 7.47 | 0.633 | 0.3% | 5.58% |
| Q/T suited | 21.38% | 7.45 | 0.5936 | 0.3% | 5.88% |
| J/T suited | 21.26% | 7.44 | 0.5813 | 0.3% | 6.18% |
| A/Q unsuited | 20.98% | 7.51 | 0.5765 | 0.9% | 7.09% |
| Pair of 9's | 19.89% | 7.81 | 0.5527 | 0.45% | 7.54% |
| K/Q unsuited | 20.31% | 7.52 | 0.5281 | 0.9% | 8.45% |
| A/9 suited | 20.28% | 7.39 | 0.4981 | 0.3% | 8.75% |
| A/J unsuited | 19.7% | 7.41 | 0.4607 | 0.9% | 9.65% |
| K/9 suited | 19.5% | 7.42 | 0.4466 | 0.3% | 9.95% |
| A/8 suited | 19.66% | 7.32 | 0.4386 | 0.3% | 10.26% |
| K/J unsuited | 19.1% | 7.43 | 0.4183 | 0.9% | 11.16% |
| Pair of 8's | 18.19% | 7.79 | 0.4164 | 0.45% | 11.61% |
| T/9 suited | 19.18% | 7.38 | 0.4162 | 0.3% | 11.92% |
| Q/9 suited | 19.03% | 7.41 | 0.4107 | 0.3% | 12.22% |
| J/9 suited | 18.96% | 7.4 | 0.4032 | 0.3% | 12.52% |
| A/5 suited | 19.29% | 7.21 | 0.3914 | 0.3% | 12.82% |
| A/7 suited | 19.12% | 7.26 | 0.3883 | 0.3% | 13.12% |
| Q/J unsuited | 18.67% | 7.41 | 0.3832 | 0.9% | 14.03% |
| A/T unsuited | 18.74% | 7.31 | 0.3705 | 0.9% | 14.93% |
| A/4 suited | 18.86% | 7.23 | 0.3638 | 0.3% | 15.23% |
| A/6 suited | 18.62% | 7.22 | 0.3448 | 0.3% | 15.54% |
| A/3 suited | 18.41% | 7.26 | 0.336 | 0.3% | 15.84% |
| K/T unsuited | 18.18% | 7.33 | 0.3328 | 0.9% | 16.74% |
| K/8 suited | 18.05% | 7.33 | 0.3234 | 0.3% | 17.04% |
| Pair of 7's | 16.85% | 7.77 | 0.309 | 0.45% | 17.5% |
| Q/T unsuited | 17.83% | 7.32 | 0.3044 | 0.9% | 18.4% |
| J/T unsuited | 17.86% | 7.3 | 0.3041 | 0.9% | 19.31% |
| A/2 suited | 17.86% | 7.28 | 0.2997 | 0.3% | 19.61% |
| T/8 suited | 17.68% | 7.32 | 0.2949 | 0.3% | 19.91% |
| Q/8 suited | 17.51% | 7.34 | 0.285 | 0.3% | 20.21% |
| J/8 suited | 17.44% | 7.33 | 0.2792 | 0.3% | 20.51% |
| K/7 suited | 17.57% | 7.27 | 0.2777 | 0.3% | 20.81% |
| 9/8 suited | 17.31% | 7.38 | 0.2768 | 0.3% | 21.12% |
| K/6 suited | 17.17% | 7.23 | 0.2413 | 0.3% | 21.42% |
| Pair of 6's | 15.84% | 7.75 | 0.2282 | 0.45% | 21.87% |
| K/5 suited | 16.83% | 7.2 | 0.2117 | 0.3% | 22.17% |
| 8/7 suited | 16.38% | 7.35 | 0.2033 | 0.3% | 22.47% |
| K/4 suited | 16.44% | 7.22 | 0.1869 | 0.3% | 22.78% |
| 9/7 suited | 16.2% | 7.33 | 0.1868 | 0.3% | 23.08% |
| T/7 suited | 16.3% | 7.26 | 0.1827 | 0.3% | 23.38% |
| Q/7 suited | 16.22% | 7.25 | 0.1756 | 0.3% | 23.68% |
| A/9 unsuited | 16.27% | 7.2 | 0.1711 | 0.9% | 24.59% |
| J/7 suited | 16.07% | 7.26 | 0.1662 | 0.3% | 24.89% |
| K/3 suited | 16.06% | 7.26 | 0.1653 | 0.3% | 25.19% |
| Pair of 5's | 14.93% | 7.73 | 0.1542 | 0.45% | 25.64% |
| 7/6 suited | 15.66% | 7.33 | 0.1481 | 0.3% | 25.94% |
| K/2 suited | 15.7% | 7.29 | 0.1446 | 0.3% | 26.24% |
| Q/6 suited | 15.85% | 7.2 | 0.1417 | 0.3% | 26.55% |
| T/9 unsuited | 15.71% | 7.21 | 0.1332 | 0.9% | 27.45% |
| K/9 unsuited | 15.62% | 7.24 | 0.1308 | 0.9% | 28.36% |
| 8/6 suited | 15.37% | 7.3 | 0.1223 | 0.3% | 28.66% |
| Q/5 suited | 15.56% | 7.17 | 0.1158 | 0.3% | 28.96% |
| Pair of 4's | 14.31% | 7.76 | 0.1103 | 0.45% | 29.41% |
| J/9 unsuited | 15.34% | 7.22 | 0.1081 | 0.9% | 30.32% |
| 6/5 suited | 15.12% | 7.32 | 0.1067 | 0.3% | 30.62% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 15.27% | 7.23 | 0.1044 | 0.9% | 31.52% |
| A/8 unsuited | 15.55% | 7.1 | 0.1037 | 0.9% | 32.43% |
| Q/4 suited | 15.16% | 7.2 | 0.0916 | 0.3% | 32.73% |
| 9/6 suited | 14.99% | 7.26 | 0.0891 | 0.3% | 33.03% |
| 5/4 suited | 14.74% | 7.32 | 0.0789 | 0.3% | 33.33% |
| T/6 suited | 15.03% | 7.18 | 0.0785 | 0.3% | 33.63% |
| Pair of 3's | 13.83% | 7.8 | 0.0782 | 0.45% | 34.09% |
| 7/5 suited | 14.74% | 7.29 | 0.0741 | 0.3% | 34.39% |
| Q/3 suited | 14.81% | 7.24 | 0.0721 | 0.3% | 34.69% |
| J/6 suited | 14.92% | 7.17 | 0.0691 | 0.3% | 34.99% |
| Pair of 2's | 13.49% | 7.83 | 0.057 | 0.45% | 35.44% |
| Q/2 suited | 14.46% | 7.28 | 0.0524 | 0.3% | 35.75% |
| A/5 unsuited | 15.1% | 6.95 | 0.0489 | 0.9% | 36.65% |
| A/7 unsuited | 14.94% | 7.01 | 0.0473 | 0.9% | 37.56% |
| J/5 suited | 14.66% | 7.13 | 0.0454 | 0.3% | 37.86% |
| 6/4 suited | 14.07% | 7.33 | 0.0306 | 0.3% | 38.16% |
| 8/5 suited | 14.22% | 7.24 | 0.0303 | 0.3% | 38.46% |
| J/4 suited | 14.28% | 7.16 | 0.0222 | 0.3% | 38.76% |
| A/4 unsuited | 14.63% | 6.96 | 0.0184 | 0.9% | 39.67% |
| 5/3 suited | 13.71% | 7.33 | 0.0049 | 0.3% | 39.97% |
| J/3 suited | 13.92% | 7.2 | 0.0023 | 0.3% | 40.27% |
| A/6 unsuited | 14.39% | 6.95 | 0 | 0.9% | 41.18% |
| T/8 unsuited | 14.07% | 7.11 | -0.0002 | 0.9% | 42.08% |
| K/8 unsuited | 14.01% | 7.09 | -0.0059 | 0.9% | 42.99% |
| 9/5 suited | 13.81% | 7.19 | -0.0066 | 0.3% | 43.29% |
| T/5 suited | 13.98% | 7.09 | -0.0092 | 0.3% | 43.59% |
| A/3 unsuited | 14.15% | 6.99 | -0.0111 | 0.9% | 44.49% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 13.73% | 7.18 | -0.0137 | 0.9% | 45.4% |
| J/2 suited | 13.59% | 7.24 | -0.0154 | 0.3% | 45.7% |
| 7/4 suited | 13.48% | 7.28 | -0.0187 | 0.3% | 46% |
| J/8 unsuited | 13.68% | 7.11 | -0.0278 | 0.9% | 46.91% |
| T/4 suited | 13.64% | 7.11 | -0.0304 | 0.3% | 47.21% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 13.6% | 7.11 | -0.0331 | 0.9% | 48.11% |
| 4/3 suited | 13.09% | 7.37 | -0.0351 | 0.3% | 48.42% |
| T/3 suited | 13.3% | 7.15 | -0.049 | 0.3% | 48.72% |
| A/2 unsuited | 13.54% | 7.01 | -0.0507 | 0.9% | 49.62% |
| K/7 unsuited | 13.48% | 7 | -0.0557 | 0.9% | 50.53% |
| 6/3 suited | 12.85% | 7.33 | -0.0587 | 0.3% | 50.83% |
| 8/4 suited | 12.98% | 7.22 | -0.0626 | 0.3% | 51.13% |
| T/2 suited | 12.95% | 7.19 | -0.0682 | 0.3% | 51.43% |
| 5/2 suited | 12.5% | 7.33 | -0.0839 | 0.3% | 51.73% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 12.79% | 7.13 | -0.0877 | 0.9% | 52.64% |
| 9/4 suited | 12.71% | 7.16 | -0.0908 | 0.3% | 52.94% |
| K/6 unsuited | 13.02% | 6.94 | -0.0972 | 0.9% | 53.85% |
| 4/2 suited | 12.08% | 7.38 | -0.1079 | 0.3% | 54.15% |
| 7/3 suited | 12.25% | 7.27 | -0.1101 | 0.3% | 54.45% |
| 9/3 suited | 12.37% | 7.19 | -0.1108 | 0.3% | 54.75% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 12.54% | 7.09 | -0.1114 | 0.9% | 55.66% |
| T/7 unsuited | 12.55% | 6.98 | -0.1238 | 0.9% | 56.56% |
| 9/2 suited | 12.03% | 7.24 | -0.1287 | 0.3% | 56.86% |
| K/5 unsuited | 12.65% | 6.88 | -0.1298 | 0.9% | 57.77% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 12.08% | 7.09 | -0.1433 | 0.9% | 58.67% |
| 8/3 suited | 11.88% | 7.19 | -0.1452 | 0.3% | 58.97% |
| 3/2 suited | 11.49% | 7.43 | -0.1454 | 0.3% | 59.28% |
| 6/2 suited | 11.62% | 7.32 | -0.1492 | 0.3% | 59.58% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 12.22% | 6.95 | -0.1511 | 0.9% | 60.48% |
| J/7 unsuited | 12.18% | 6.97 | -0.1514 | 0.9% | 61.39% |
| K/4 unsuited | 12.21% | 6.9 | -0.1579 | 0.9% | 62.29% |
| 8/2 suited | 11.57% | 7.23 | -0.163 | 0.3% | 62.59% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 11.7% | 7.04 | -0.1767 | 0.9% | 63.5% |
| K/3 unsuited | 11.79% | 6.94 | -0.1818 | 0.9% | 64.4% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 11.51% | 7.07 | -0.1865 | 0.9% | 65.31% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 11.81% | 6.87 | -0.189 | 0.9% | 66.21% |
| 7/2 suited | 11.19% | 7.24 | -0.1897 | 0.3% | 66.52% |
| K/2 unsuited | 11.41% | 6.98 | -0.2035 | 0.9% | 67.42% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 11.12% | 7.06 | -0.2149 | 0.9% | 68.33% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 11.22% | 6.97 | -0.2182 | 0.9% | 69.23% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 11.46% | 6.82 | -0.2191 | 0.9% | 70.14% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 11.07% | 7 | -0.2249 | 0.9% | 71.04% |
| T/6 unsuited | 11.18% | 6.83 | -0.2361 | 0.9% | 71.95% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 11.03% | 6.84 | -0.2454 | 0.9% | 72.85% |
| J/6 unsuited | 10.94% | 6.8 | -0.2562 | 0.9% | 73.76% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 10.39% | 7.05 | -0.2677 | 0.9% | 74.66% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 10.63% | 6.88 | -0.2679 | 0.9% | 75.57% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 10.47% | 6.92 | -0.2757 | 0.9% | 76.47% |
| J/5 unsuited | 10.64% | 6.73 | -0.2837 | 0.9% | 77.38% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 10.26% | 6.93 | -0.289 | 0.9% | 78.28% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 10.04% | 7.04 | -0.2936 | 0.9% | 79.19% |
| J/4 unsuited | 10.22% | 6.76 | -0.3091 | 0.9% | 80.09% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 9.97% | 6.82 | -0.3206 | 0.9% | 81% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 9.73% | 6.95 | -0.3238 | 0.9% | 81.9% |
| T/5 unsuited | 10.06% | 6.65 | -0.3308 | 0.9% | 82.81% |
| J/3 unsuited | 9.83% | 6.81 | -0.3312 | 0.9% | 83.71% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 9.38% | 7.08 | -0.336 | 0.9% | 84.62% |
| J/2 unsuited | 9.46% | 6.86 | -0.3512 | 0.9% | 85.52% |
| T/4 unsuited | 9.66% | 6.67 | -0.3554 | 0.9% | 86.43% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 9.08% | 7 | -0.3642 | 0.9% | 87.33% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 9.12% | 6.84 | -0.3766 | 0.9% | 88.24% |
| T/3 unsuited | 9.28% | 6.72 | -0.3767 | 0.9% | 89.14% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 8.73% | 7 | -0.3892 | 0.9% | 90.05% |
| T/2 unsuited | 8.93% | 6.76 | -0.3962 | 0.9% | 90.95% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 8.76% | 6.71 | -0.4126 | 0.9% | 91.86% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 8.3% | 7.06 | -0.4138 | 0.9% | 92.76% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 8.41% | 6.88 | -0.4219 | 0.9% | 93.67% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 8.4% | 6.74 | -0.4338 | 0.9% | 94.57% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 8.04% | 6.8 | -0.4531 | 0.9% | 95.48% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 7.67% | 7.12 | -0.4543 | 0.9% | 96.38% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 7.79% | 6.94 | -0.46 | 0.9% | 97.29% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 7.96% | 6.73 | -0.4646 | 0.9% | 98.19% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 7.61% | 6.77 | -0.4844 | 0.9% | 99.1% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 7.28% | 6.77 | -0.5073 | 0.9% | 100% |
| Total | | 7.2 | 0 | 100% | |
Methodology
This table is the result of a random simulation of 25,729,704,000 games and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 8-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Basically, you should only play hands that are dark green, blue, or purple. Of course you should be more be more liberal in late position and picky in early position.
Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.
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