Thrice is Nice - Rule of Thumb Principle for Best Bets

Jump to Thrice - No Loser

The principle is that the Best Bet Hands are those that have THREE Ways of winning.
A bonus of 1 point is applied if you have a card higher than the existing cards on the table, or matching the highest card.
This bonus always applies for Ace, and often for Kings.

In general the potential ways of winning are:

Each Way of Winning is assigned a point => see the table below for examples.

So for example:

CHECK and 'Look-See' Small Bets

Two cards > 6, or cards with Scores of 2, with two ways of winning. For example: QTo, Q9o, T8o, 87o, J8o

FOLD cards

Two cards < 6 or Scores of 1 or 0, with one way of winning and poor prospects. For example: 57o, 64o, 35o, Q6o, J4o, 66, 55

Examples of THRICE Hands are:

Hand

Pair

Card > 6

Connected

Suited

Score

AA

1

2

1

1

5

AKs

 

2

1

1

4

AKo

 

2

1

 

3

AQs

 

2

 

1

3

KKs

1

2

1

1

5

KKo

1

2

1

 

4

A8s*

 

2

 

1

5*

A8o*

 

2

   

3*

A6s*

 

1

 

1

3*

A6o*

 

1

   

2

K4s**

 

1

 

1

3**

K4o**

 

1

   

2**

87s

 

2

1

1

4

J9s

 

2

 

1

3

J9o

 

2

   

2

87o

 

2

1

 

3

99s

1

2

1

1

5

99o

 

2

1

 

3

97s

 

2

 

1

3

97o

 

2

   

2

T9s

 

2

1

1

4

T9o

 

2

1

 

3

77s

1

2

1

1

5

77o

 

2

1

 

3

66s

1

 

1

1

3

67s

 

1

1

1

3

67o

 

1

1

 

2

66o

1

 

1

 

2

PocketPs

1

 

1

1

3

PocketPo

1

 

1

 

2


* Bonus of 1 point for any card Higher than the cards on the Table. Always applied for Aces.

** Kings will often be the Highest card on the table and so the bonus for highest, generally applies for Kings.


Thrice – Loser Principles

The principle is to not continuing betting when there are ONE to THREE Ways of Losing. The more LIVE players there are, the more ways there are to lose. So the prospect of losing multiplies the ways of losing. Chance always RULES and so your opponents bet size and how they bet is a good indicator of what they have.

In general the ways of losing and warning signs are:

OFFSETS

Can you still win in these situations?

Note: Do not except to win hands with only a single pair match, especially when there are 3 or more players.

Note: To chance it YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING. If you can be beaten and there is a high bet against you - say for a flush to straight then don't commit suicide!!!


Phases, Card Rankings and Strategy for 9 Player Tournament

Outlined below are the Phases for a 9 Player Tournament, The Card Ranking Changes, and Strategy Shifts as the number of players declines and the blind size increases.

The table below shows the changes in win probabilities for numbers of players from 10 to 2. The data assumes that all players continue to the end of the game.

The color codings for the cards are the traffic lights scores: Green, Amber and Red. the probability range colors are >30% and 15-29%.

The key changes in probabilities are the number of players declines are:

These changes reflect the increased emphasis on one matched pair winning the hand. In a real game many hands will be completed early with large bets and this initial match.

Phase 1. Initial phase with 9 players, small blinds

Phase 2. Mid-Game generally with 6 players and medium blinds

Phase 3. Closing Game, generally with 2-3 players with large blinds

Phase 4. Head to Head - Two Players

Table 3. How the hand win-probabilities change with number of players from 10 to 2. The Card hand colors are the traffic-lights system - Blue/Green, Amber and Red (left as White). The first suited and unsuited pairs with a 7 (A7) are shown Underlined. The probabilities are ranked from highest to lowest, assuming all players continue to the end of the game. For pairs with both cards 10 or greater win probabilities are 20% (8 players), 24% (6 players), 33% (4 players), 44% (3 players), 58% (2 players). For pairs with both cards 7 or greater win probabilities are 16% (8 players), 22% (6 players), 30% (4 players), 38% (3 players), 52% (2 players). Notice that J10o and J9o (the first Js ) appear well down the list and are ranked POOR (red) for win probability. Pairs 77, 66, 55 get better outcomes than expected, especially with fewer players (bird in the hand). This emphasises how higher cards matter.

 

10 pls

 

8 pls

 

6 pls

 

4 pls

 

3 pls

 

2 pls

AA

31%

AA

39%

AA

50%

AA

64%

AA

74%

AA

85%

KK

26%

KK

33%

KK

43%

KK

59%

KK

69%

KK

82%

QQ

23%

QQ

29%

QQ

38%

QQ

54%

QQ

65%

QQ

80%

AKs

22%

AKs

26%

JJs

34%

JJs

50%

JJs

62%

JJs

77%

JJs

20%

JJs

25%

AKs

32%

TT

46%

TT

58%

TT

75%

AQs

20%

AQs

25%

TT

30%

AKs

43%

99

54%

99

72%

KQs

20%

KQs

24%

AQs

31%

99

42%

AKs

52%

88

69%

AJs

20%

AJs

23%

KQs

30%

AQs

41%

88

50%

KAs

66%

KJs

19%

TT

22%

AJs

29%

AKo

40%

AQs

51%

77

66%

ATs

19%

AKo

23%

AKo

29%

AJs

40%

AKo

49%

AQs

65%

QJs

19%

KJs

23%

KJs

28%

KQs

39%

AJs

49%

AJs

64%

AKo

18%

ATs

23%

ATs

28%

88

38%

KQs

48%

KAo

64%

TT

18%

QJs

22%

99

27%

ATs

39%

ATs

49%

ATs

63%

KTs

18%

KTs

22%

QJs

28%

AQo

38%

AQo

48%

AQo

64%

QTs

18%

QTs

21%

AQo

27%

KJs

38%

77

47%

AJo

63%

JTs

18%

JTs

21%

KTs

27%

QJs

37%

KJs

47%

KQs

62%

99

16%

AQo

21%

QTs

27%

KTs

37%

AJo

47%

66

63%

AQo

17%

99

20%

KQo

26%

AJo

37%

KTs

46%

A9s

62%

A9s

17%

KQo

20%

JTs

26%

KQo

36%

A9s

46%

ATo

62%

KQo

16%

A9s

20%

AJo

26%

A9s

36%

KQo

46%

KJs

61%

K9s

16%

AJo

20%

A9s

26%

QTs

36%

ATo

46%

A8s

61%

T9s

16%

K9s

20%

88

25%

77

35%

QJs

46%

KTs

61%

A8s

16%

A8s

20%

KJo

25%

ATo

36%

A8s

45%

KQo

60%

J9s

16%

KJo

19%

K9s

25%

JTs

35%

66

44%

A7s

59%

Q9s

16%

88

18%

A8s

25%

KJo

35%

QTs

45%

A9o

59%

88

15%

T9s

19%

ATo

25%

A8s

35%

KJo

44%

KJo

59%

A5s

16%

Q9s

19%

QJo

24%

K9s

35%

A7s

44%

55

60%

AJo

16%

J9s

19%

Q9s

24%

QJo

34%

K9s

44%

QJs

59%

A7s

16%

A5s

19%

A7s

24%

A7s

34%

JTs

43%

K9s

59%

A4s

16%

A7s

19%

T9s

24%

KTo

34%

KTo

43%

A5s

58%

A3s

16%

QJo

19%

J9s

24%

Q9s

33%

A9o

43%

A6s

58%

KJo

15%

ATo

19%

KTo

24%

A5s

34%

A5s

44%

A8o

58%

A6s

16%

A4s

19%

A5s

24%

66

32%

QJo

43%

KTo

58%

QJo

15%

A6s

19%

77

22%

A6s

33%

A6s

43%

QTs

58%

77

14%

A3s

18%

QTo

23%

QTo

33%

Q9s

42%

A4s

57%

A2s

15%

KTo

18%

A4s

24%

J9s

33%

A4s

43%

A7o

57%

K8s

15%

K8s

18%

A6s

24%

A9o

33%

A8o

42%

K8s

57%

T8s

15%

77

17%

JTo

23%

A4s

33%

QTo

42%

A3s

56%

98s

15%

QTo

18%

K8s

23%

T9s

33%

K8s

42%

QJo

57%

ATo

15%

JTo

18%

A3s

23%

K8s

33%

55

41%

K9o

56%

J8s

15%

A2s

18%

Q8s

22%

JTo

32%

A3s

42%

A5o

56%

Q8s

15%

T8s

18%

K7s

22%

A3s

32%

J9s

41%

A6o

56%

K7s

15%

Q8s

18%

A2s

22%

K7s

32%

K7s

41%

Q9s

56%

KTo

15%

J8s

17%

T8s

22%

A8o

32%

A7o

41%

K7s

56%

JTo

15%

K7s

18%

J8s

22%

Q8s

31%

K9o

41%

JTs

56%

66

14%

98s

17%

98s

22%

K9o

31%

JTo

41%

A2s

56%

QTo

14%

K6s

17%

A9o

22%

A2s

31%

A2s

41%

QTo

56%

K6s

14%

66

16%

66

21%

J8s

31%

T9s

40%

44

56%

87s

14%

K5s

17%

K6s

22%

K6s

31%

Q8s

40%

A4o

55%

K5s

14%

87s

16%

K5s

21%

55

29%

K6s

40%

K6s

55%

97s

14%

K4s

16%

K9o

21%

T8s

31%

A5o

40%

K8o

54%

55

13%

97s

16%

A8o

21%

A7o

31%

A6o

40%

Q8s

54%

T7s

14%

T7s

16%

Q7s

21%

98s

30%

Q9o

39%

A3o

54%

K4s

14%

Q7s

16%

K4s

21%

Q9o

30%

K5s

40%

K5s

54%

76s

14%

A9o

16%

87s

20%

K5s

30%

J8s

39%

J9s

54%

44

13%

J7s

16%

Q9o

20%

A5o

30%

A4o

39%

Q9o

54%

K3s

13%

K3s

16%

T7s

20%

J9o

29%

K8o

39%

JTo

54%

Q7s

14%

55

16%

T9o

20%

Q7s

29%

44

37%

K7o

53%

J7s

13%

76s

16%

97s

20%

T9o

29%

T8s

38%

A2o

53%

33

12%

K2s

16%

J7s

20%

A6o

30%

K4s

39%

K4s

53%

K2s

13%

Q6s

16%

J9o

20%

K4s

29%

Q7s

38%

Q7s

53%

22

12%

T9o

16%

K3s

20%

A4o

29%

J9o

38%

K6o

52%

86s

13%

K9o

16%

55

19%

K8o

29%

A3o

39%

K3s

52%

65s

13%

86s

16%

Q6s

20%

J7s

29%

K7o

38%

T9s

52%

Q6s

13%

Q5s

16%

A7o

20%

Q6s

29%

98s

38%

J8s

52%

54s

13%

44

14%

K2s

20%

T7s

29%

Q6s

38%

33

53%

Q5s

13%

J9o

15%

A5o

20%

K3s

29%

K3s

38%

Q6s

52%

75s

13%

65s

15%

Q5s

20%

97s

28%

T9o

37%

Q8o

52%

96s

13%

Q9o

15%

76s

19%

87s

28%

J7s

37%

K5o

51%

T9o

13%

A8o

16%

86s

19%

A3o

28%

Q8o

37%

J9o

52%

Q4s

13%

Q4s

15%

Q4s

19%

44

27%

A2o

37%

K2s

51%

T6s

13%

96s

15%

A4o

20%

Q5s

28%

K6o

37%

Q5s

51%

A9o

13%

54s

15%

A6o

19%

K7o

28%

K2s

37%

T8s

51%

Q3s

12%

T6s

15%

K8o

19%

K2s

28%

Q5s

37%

K4o

50%

64s

12%

33

14%

T6s

19%

Q8o

28%

T7s

37%

J7s

50%

J6s

13%

75s

15%

96s

19%

J8o

27%

J8o

36%

Q4s

50%

Q2s

12%

Q3s

15%

J6s

19%

Q4s

27%

97s

36%

Q7o

50%

J9o

12%

J6s

15%

44

18%

A2o

28%

Q4s

36%

T9o

50%

85s

12%

22

13%

Q3s

19%

T8o

27%

K5o

36%

J8o

50%

53s

12%

Q2s

14%

65s

18%

J6s

27%

87s

36%

K3o

49%

K9o

12%

A5o

15%

A3o

19%

K6o

27%

33

34%

Q6o

49%

J5s

12%

A7o

15%

T8o

19%

76s

27%

T8o

35%

Q3s

49%

Q9o

12%

J5s

15%

J5s

19%

T6s

27%

J6s

35%

89s

49%

J4s

12%

64s

14%

Q8o

18%

98o

27%

Q3s

35%

T7s

49%

A8o

12%

85s

14%

Q2s

18%

86s

27%

Q7o

35%

J6s

49%

74s

12%

J4s

14%

J8o

18%

Q3s

27%

K4o

35%

K2o

48%

J3s

12%

A4o

15%

75s

18%

96s

27%

J5s

35%

22

49%

43s

11%

53s

14%

98o

18%

J5s

27%

98o

35%

Q2s

48%

95s

12%

J3s

14%

K7o

18%

K5o

26%

T6s

35%

Q5o

48%

J2s

11%

A6o

14%

54s

18%

Q2s

26%

Q2s

34%

J5s

48%

T5s

12%

T8o

14%

J4s

18%

33

25%

Q6o

34%

T8o

48%

A5o

12%

K8o

14%

A2o

18%

J4s

26%

96s

34%

J7o

48%

63s

11%

95s

14%

85s

18%

Q7o

26%

K3o

34%

Q4o

47%

T4s

12%

T5s

14%

33

17%

65s

25%

86s

34%

79s

47%

A7o

12%

A3o

14%

J3s

18%

K4o

26%

J7o

34%

J4s

47%

T8o

11%

98o

14%

T5s

18%

75s

25%

76s

34%

T6s

47%

T3s

11%

J2s

14%

95s

17%

J7o

25%

J4s

34%

J3s

46%

A4o

12%

74s

13%

K6o

18%

J3s

25%

Q5o

33%

Q3o

46%

98o

11%

J8o

14%

64s

17%

T5s

25%

T7o

33%

89o

46%

84s

11%

T4s

14%

J2s

17%

T7o

25%

K2o

33%

78s

46%

52s

11%

Q8o

14%

T4s

17%

85s

25%

J3s

33%

T7o

46%

T2s

11%

43s

13%

22

16%

Q6o

25%

T5s

33%

J6o

46%

A3o

11%

T3s

13%

74s

17%

87o

25%

97o

33%

69s

45%

42s

10%

A2o

14%

53s

17%

95s

25%

22

31%

J2s

45%

A6o

11%

K7o

13%

K5o

17%

97o

25%

87o

32%

Q2o

45%

94s

11%

63s

13%

87o

17%

K3o

25%

Q4o

33%

T5s

45%

J8o

11%

84s

13%

T3s

17%

T4s

25%

J2s

32%

J5o

45%

K8o

11%

T2s

13%

97o

17%

J2s

24%

65s

32%

T4s

44%

73s

10%

52s

13%

T7o

17%

54s

24%

95s

32%

79o

44%

93s

10%

87o

13%

Q7o

17%

Q5o

24%

T4s

32%

68s

44%

87o

11%

94s

13%

J7o

17%

64s

24%

75s

32%

J4o

44%

Q8o

11%

K6o

13%

84s

16%

K2o

24%

85s

32%

T6o

44%

A2o

11%

42s

12%

T2s

16%

T3s

24%

J6o

32%

59s

43%

32s

10%

73s

12%

K4o

17%

22

23%

Q3o

32%

T3s

43%

92s

10%

93s

12%

43s

16%

74s

23%

T3s

31%

67s

43%

62s

10%

97o

13%

94s

16%

Q4o

24%

T6o

31%

J3o

43%

K7o

11%

T7o

13%

63s

16%

T2s

23%

J5o

31%

78o

43%

83s

10%

92s

12%

Q6o

16%

84s

23%

54s

31%

T2s

43%

97o

10%

K5o

13%

K3o

16%

76o

23%

T2s

31%

58s

42%

76o

10%

76o

12%

93s

16%

J6o

23%

Q2o

31%

69o

42%

82s

10%

83s

12%

76o

16%

94s

23%

96o

31%

J2o

42%

T7o

10%

32s

11%

52s

15%

86o

23%

64s

30%

T5o

42%

K6o

10%

62s

12%

73s

15%

T6o

23%

86o

30%

49s

41%

72s

10%

Q7o

12%

92s

15%

53s

23%

76o

30%

57s

41%

65o

10%

J7o

12%

Q5o

16%

96o

23%

94s

30%

T4o

41%

86o

10%

K4o

12%

K2o

15%

93s

23%

74s

30%

39s

41%

K5o

10%

82s

12%

86o

15%

Q3o

23%

J4o

30%

68o

41%

54o

9%

86o

12%

83s

15%

J5o

23%

84s

30%

56s

40%

J7o

10%

K3o

12%

42s

15%

63s

22%

93s

30%

48s

40%

K4o

10%

65o

12%

96o

15%

43s

22%

J3o

29%

59o

40%

Q7o

10%

Q6o

12%

T6o

15%

92s

22%

53s

29%

T3o

40%

75o

9%

72s

11%

Q4o

15%

Q2o

22%

T5o

29%

29s

40%

K3o

9%

K2o

11%

82s

15%

73s

22%

92s

29%

67o

40%

96o

9%

54o

11%

65o

15%

J4o

22%

65o

29%

47s

39%

K2o

9%

96o

11%

J6o

15%

65o

22%

63s

29%

T2o

39%

Q6o

9%

Q5o

11%

62s

14%

83s

21%

95o

29%

45s

39%

64o

9%

75o

11%

32s

14%

75o

21%

J2o

29%

58o

39%

Q5o

9%

T6o

11%

Q3o

15%

52s

21%

75o

29%

46s

38%

T6o

9%

Q4o

11%

75o

14%

82s

21%

T4o

29%

38s

38%

53o

9%

J6o

11%

72s

14%

85o

21%

43s

28%

49o

38%

85o

9%

64o

10%

J5o

15%

T5o

21%

85o

28%

57o

38%

Q4o

9%

Q3o

11%

54o

14%

J3o

21%

73s

28%

28s

38%

J6o

9%

85o

10%

Q2o

14%

95o

21%

83s

28%

37s

37%

Q3o

8%

J5o

11%

85o

14%

42s

20%

82s

28%

39o

37%

43o

8%

Q2o

10%

J4o

14%

54o

21%

T3o

28%

56o

37%

74o

8%

53o

10%

64o

13%

62s

20%

52s

27%

35s

37%

Q2o

8%

J4o

10%

95o

13%

T4o

21%

54o

27%

36s

37%

J5o

8%

95o

10%

T5o

14%

J2o

20%

62s

27%

48o

37%

95o

8%

74o

10%

J3o

13%

72s

20%

64o

27%

29o

500%

J4o

8%

T5o

10%

T4o

13%

64o

20%

T2o

27%

34s

36%

63o

8%

J3o

10%

J2o

13%

32s

20%

42s

26%

47o

36%

J3o

8%

43o

9%

53o

13%

T3o

20%

72s

26%

27s

35%

T5o

8%

J2o

9%

74o

13%

74o

20%

94o

27%

45o

35%

52o

7%

T4o

10%

T3o

13%

84o

19%

74o

27%

46o

35%

J2o

7%

63o

9%

84o

12%

T2o

19%

84o

26%

25s

35%

T4o

8%

84o

9%

43o

12%

94o

19%

93o

26%

26s

35%

84o

7%

T3o

9%

T2o

12%

53o

19%

32s

26%

38o

35%

42o

7%

52o

9%

63o

12%

93o

19%

53o

25%

24s

34%

T3o

7%

T2o

9%

94o

12%

63o

18%

92o

25%

28o

34%

T2o

7%

94o

9%

93o

12%

43o

18%

63o

25%

37o

34%

73o

7%

42o

8%

52o

11%

92o

18%

43o

24%

35o

33%

94o

7%

73o

8%

73o

11%

73o

18%

73o

24%

36o

33%

32o

6%

93o

8%

92o

11%

83o

17%

83o

24%

23s

33%

62o

6%

92o

8%

42o

11%

52o

17%

82o

24%

34o

32%

93o

7%

32o

8%

83o

11%

82o

17%

52o

23%

27o

32%

92o

6%

62o

8%

62o

10%

42o

16%

62o

23%

25o

31%

83o

6%

83o

8%

82o

10%

62o

16%

42o

23%

26o

30%

82o

6%

82o

8%

32o

10%

72o

16%

72o

22%

24o

30%

72o

6%

72o

7%

72o

10%

32o

15%

32o

22%

23o

29%