On Considering Q3.

DeVore

regarding Iagos post here about a hand he saw last night.

I'd like to distance myself from such reckless use of Q3s.

Q3 suited is an advanced hand that needs careful mental preparation and training, it is at the same level of 94d (the unadulterated power of which has been unleashed on players such as Marq and Dave in the past).

Firstly you have to understand HOW to play such monster cards, you need to understand what makes them so strong. Once you understand the source of their power you will, without scarying the trapee away, be able to dominate the hand from start to finish.

Traditional constrained thinking overly weights the starting hands in favour of supposedly "big cards" but how many straights and flushes can be made with smaller cards... just as many right? And lets face it even a straight to the 3 beats trips, yeah?

There are as many threes as there are Aces in the pack, so why bet on the high cards when you could be in competition for them with other players, remember a pair of threes beats an unpaired Ace EVERY TIME!!

Below I will expand on some of the more complex mathematics.
<#include nerdy-maths-stuff-I-made-up-and-that-noone-reads-anyway.c>

And so you can see there is sound mathematical reasoning to support playing this hand in *ANY* position. Consider how it performs against AKo...

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=761567
pokenum  -h ad kh  - qs 3s 
Holdem Hi: 1712304 enumerated boards
cards      win   %win     lose  %lose   tie  %tie     EV
Qs 3s   1086347  63.44   617837  36.08  8120  0.47  0.637
Ad Kh    617834  36.08  1086347  63.44  8120  0.47  0.363

The queen is a formidable blocker to the AK's straight potential while straights UP TO the Q are free from obstructions. DOMINATION!!!

Its important that your cards are MULTI PURPOSE like this, note that the Q also plays a roll in flush possibilites. It can be paired for a high pair or if (just as likely!) the 3 pairs, then you have the third best kicker possible. Is it any wonder this hand performs so well. Consider also that the 3 is free to play a role in lower straight possibities and backs up the flush draw. This is what professionals call "Synergy" or "Synergistic Energy" between your cards.

Even against AA its a toss up. AA is going nowhere fast, only two cards can improve it. Q3 on the other hand has 6 cards for pairs and plenty of straights and flush possibilites to jump ahead of the Aces EVEN IF THEY HIT A SET!!! Both the upper and lower thirds of the deck help you so your odds are 2 in 3! Public perception and a general Emperors New Clothes sheep-like agreement that AA is the best possible starting hand account for this hand being slightly ahead in the probabilities:

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=591787
pokenum  -h ad ah  - qs 3s 
Holdem Hi: 1712304 enumerated boards
cards      win   %win     lose  %lose   tie  %tie     EV
Ad Ah   426672  55.32   278867  45.29  6765  0.40  0.555
Qs 3s   378867  45.29   426672  55.32  6765  0.40  0.455

So there you have it, I will leave the fact that Q3 has two poker draws against, say, KK's singular poker draw as I dont want to berate the obvious.

Q3s, its the new KTs.


DeV.

RexFerator

See for further edification:
The Hammer

Did i learn how to use the llink the button on my first try...I'm so smrt

Juan Pablo

Clearly, supported by the above maths, Qs3s is a monster monster hand, but is vulnerable to other big advanced hands, for example:

Holdem Hi: 1712304 enumerated boards
cards      win   %win     lose  %lose    tie  %tie     EV
9c 2c  1046535  61.12   648978  37.90  16791  0.98  0.616
Qs 3s   648978  37.90  1046535  61.12  16791  0.98  0.384

Although it would appear that Qs3s has hidden Omaha potential you are missing, making it an EV++++++ hand.

Omaha Hi: 500000 sampled boards
cards             win   %win    lose  %lose  tie  %tie     EV
Ac Jc  Ah  Th  149469  29.89  350531  70.11    0  0.00  0.299
Qs 3s  2c  7d  350531  70.11  149469  29.89    0  0.00  0.701

DeVore

I cant imagine a more potent Omaha hand then KQT3 double suited. pheer

DeV.

Lafortezza

After reading this article you just went up a huge amount in my estimation as a poker player DeV. Now you are merely shít.

DeVore

I thank you.

DeV.