Working the Percentage
In no limit Texas Hold'em, especially tournaments, a player is often confronted with large bets and raises. It is crucial if faced against a huge bet that the player has some kind of understanding of odds and the value of the hand he or she is having. In no limit games a large raise often means you are up against a very strong hand and to know the odds you have with a hand against a strong hand is advantageous.
Below is a chart where you can work out the percentage for common heads-up situations.
- AA vs. KK: AA has about 80% to win the pot. That goes for all over pairs against under pairs.
- AKs vs AQs: AKs has about 70% to win, the AQ has about 26% and there is a 4% of split pot.
- An Ace against another Ace with lower kicker: the Ace with higher kicker has in most cases about 70% chance to win unless both kickers are low, then the chance of split is higher.
- AK, AQ, AJ or other high over cards against pocket pairs such as 77, 88 and 99: the pocket pairs are slight favourites to win with a 55% chance to win. If the over cards are suited the odds are about 53% against 47% to the pocket pairs favour.
- A10 vs. KQ and other hands in the middle: A10 has about 60% chance.
- A10 vs. 78 and other hands with two under cards: The over cards have about 65% chance of winning the pot.
- A10 vs. K 8 and other hands where one card is in the middle: The high hand has between 60-65% of winning depending on suits.
