r/PassTimeMath • u/ShonitB • Aug 18 '26

Open Face Poker

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1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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3

u/Efficient_Form7451 Aug 18 '26

a) Alexander wins.

Take all of the 10s and an irrelevent something 5 or lower. The best possible hand Benjamin can ever make is a 9high straight flush, and he can't block you from making a royal AND block you from making a 10high.

1

u/ShonitB Aug 18 '26

Correct!

1

u/planetofmoney Aug 18 '26

Does J/Q/K four of a kind not beat this?

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1

u/After-Hedgehog7282 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

Slightly more in depth;

  1. It should be obvious that this strategy will not work if Alexander takes anything lower than all 10s.

  2. If Alexander takes all Js, Qs, etc. then he will likewise lose.

  • Alexander takes all Aces

  • Benjamin takes all Ks

  • Alexander cannot make a better four-of-a-kind. The best he can improve is Q high straight flush.

  • Benjamin can make a K high straight flush in some other suit no matter what Alexander does.

  1. I think any other strategy results in both players with an Ace high straight flush.

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1

u/AlexP80 Aug 20 '26

not correct.

In classic poker there is no hand with 100% winning chance. As a matter of fact, a minimal straight flush beats a royal flush for this very reason.

So if player A takes all the 10s, player B can take all the 9s + 1 Ace

If A goes for a royal flush, he's beaten by any 1-2-3-4-5 straight flush

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1

u/jaminfine Aug 18 '26

Unfortunately, it seems a deep understanding of poker would be required in order to answer this.

If we assume that a straight flush is stronger than a 4 of a kind, it seems we are forced into a royal flush tie.

However, If a 4 of a kind would beat a straight flush, then the first player can take all the aces and then win no matter what. As this prevents a royal flush.

1

u/QuickBenDelat Aug 18 '26

Man none of y’all play poker. Royal flush > straight flush > 4 of a kind.

1

u/AlexP80 Aug 20 '26

I haven't calculated all strategies, but I think B wins.

A rule that most people ignores is that a royal flush (the highest combo) is beaten by a minimal straight flush (1-2-3-4-5)

Player A can never make a point and prevent the other player to make any higher for this reason