Why is this the Correct Hold?

[Miller77]

Was playing the Double Bonus Poker on my iPhone, I came across a hand that I and I do not understand the hold. I was dealt Kh, Jh, 10c, 5s and 7h. I naturally held Kh, and Jh but it came up as an error. It says that holding Kh, Jh and 7h is 56.3% and holding just the Kh and Jh is 55.5%. The number of possible hands holding the Kh, Jh and 7h is 1081 and just the Kh and Jh you have 16,215 hands. Anyone know why this would be the case or is this an error in the software? CM  

[shadowman]

I assume you were playing 10/7 DB. In this case the flush pays more than in almost any other game. Holding the 7 gives you more opportunities to get the flush which is why you will find out holding 3 to a flush happens quite a bit in this game.
 
For example, if you have no face cards to hold but have 3 cards in the same suit, it may also be the correct hold.
 
Finally, if you did not have the 10c (or a 9) you would hold just the KJ. The 10 is a penalty card in that tossing it reduces the number of possible straights you can pick up on the draw.

[backsider]

The easy way that I look at this is if you like royals, hold the two cards. If you like flushes, hold all three hearts. I dont play that game and I dont think Ive ever seen it, but for that .8% difference you figured it out to be, why would anyone bother trying for a flush when the name of the game is royals? I know here we go again making up that were all pros who have nothing better to do than spend our lives at the machines so we better do it this way or else. But think about what makes sense and what doesnt and youll come to the same conclusion I did here.

[shadowman]

Backsider once again demonstrates that logic is not his strong point. If one is supposed to believe that short term only makes sense then why would one not go for the 23:1 odds of hitting the flush vs. the 16215:1 odds of getting the RF?
 
Why is it that Backsider continually makes contradicting comments?

[Miller77]

I assume you were playing 10/7 DB. In this case the flush pays more than in almost any other game. Holding the 7 gives you more opportunities to get the flush which is why you will find out holding 3 to a flush happens quite a bit in this game.
 
For example, if you have no face cards to hold but have 3 cards in the same suit, it may also be the correct hold.
 
Finally, if you did not have the 10c (or a 9) you would hold just the KJ. The 10 is a penalty card in that tossing it reduces the number of possible straights you can pick up on the draw.
 Thanks Shadowman... It was in fact 10/7 DB.  As for your example given above, if i did not have a face card but three cards in the same suit, it is the correct to hold the three suited cards (on the hand analyzer i used 2h, 6h, 10h 8c, and 4d). I appreciate the input. CM

[Miller77]

The easy way that I look at this is if you like royals, hold the two cards. If you like flushes, hold all three hearts. I dont play that game and I dont think Ive ever seen it, but for that .8% difference you figured it out to be, why would anyone bother trying for a flush when the name of the game is royals? I know here we go again making up that were all pros who have nothing better to do than spend our lives at the machines so we better do it this way or else. But think about what makes sense and what doesnt and youll come to the same conclusion I did here.
 I was looking for a conclusive answer as to why the math worked out the way it did, not what a "preference" might be if I want to hold for a flush or a royal... For me the name of the game is not playing for royals (although it is nice to hit one), but rather to play as close to perfect as I can and what the most "strategic" hold would be. CM

[shadowman]

[QUOTE=shadowman]I assume you were playing 10/7 DB. In this case the flush pays more than in almost any other game. Holding the 7 gives you more opportunities to get the flush which is why you will find out holding 3 to a flush happens quite a bit in this game.
 
For example, if you have no face cards to hold but have 3 cards in the same suit, it may also be the correct hold.
 
Finally, if you did not have the 10c (or a 9) you would hold just the KJ. The 10 is a penalty card in that tossing it reduces the number of possible straights you can pick up on the draw.
 
Thanks Shadowman... It was in fact 10/7 DB.
 
As for your example given above, if i did not have a face card but three cards in the same suit, it is the correct to hold the three suited cards (on the hand analyzer i used 2h, 6h, 10h 8c, and 4d).
 
I appreciate the input.
 
CM[/QUOTE]


 
Not sure what analyzer you are using. Most of the software programs also provide a breakdown of the winning combinations of all possible holds. This is often useful when you have questions like the one above. You can see how many of each possible result are possible. This often helps clear up any questions.

[onemoretry]

For me the name of the game is not playing for royals (although it is nice to hit one), but rather to play as close to perfect as I can and what the most "strategic" hold would be. CM
 I agree.  The name of the game is not getting royals, but winning as much (or, losing as little) as possible.  Going for the royal when other holds are better does not achieve that. A question I like to ask anyone who "always goes for the royal" is: "How do you decide, when you're dealt four aces, which three to discard to go for the royal?" As Shadowman said,  the value of the flush influences a lot of the holds in both 10/7 and 9/7 double bonus poker.  So, you keep that low card suited with KQ or KJ when one of the other two dealt cards is a straight penalty.  With AK, AQ or AJ, you always keep a lower suited card. With a single high card, and two lower suited ones, you keep all three.  And yes, with nothing else to keep, if you have a three card flush, draw to it. The hands that I have a hard time with are three cards to the royal with a lower suited one.  Playing perfect strategy means that only with QJ10 would you discard the lower suited card and go for the royal - in all other cases, the four to a flush is "better". If I was going to deviate from computer-perfect strategy, it would be with these three to a royal deals.  

[backsider]

As I said, here we go again acting as if a player asking a question will be sitting at the machine for an eternity. I guess I should be thankful it only gave shadowman a wedgie. You know, its kind of fun sometimes and I wish I were more skillful at it.

onemoretry, I wasnt talking about always going for a royal, but only in the instance provided. It seems such a waste of time to go for a little winner needing 2 select cards when youre given a chance for the ultimate hand at the same time. The way I see it, its not that long a shot really, and how often are we given the chance for a royal?

Playing it safe:   

[onemoretry]

. The way I see it, its not that long a shot really, and how often are we given the chance for a royal?

 
 What does it take to be a longshot?  Hitting a royal, drawing three cards is a one in 16215 shot.  Seems like a longshot to me. On the other hand, completing a flush with a two card draw to three suited ones is "only" a one in 24 shot. Many people would think that a one in 24 opportunity at a 35 unit payout is superior to a one in 16215 one at a 4000 one.  But, each to his own.