When doing research for this book, we had the ability to do computer simulation. Some of these results are presented below with out comments.

Even though these types of results are useful in a game like seven-card stud, you should keep in mind that they are not poker. Specifically, they do not take into account how a hand is played, knowledge of your opponent, or the fact that the hand may not be played to the river. However, these results can give some important insights into whether and how a hand should be played. (Note: For each of these match-ups, the computer “dealt out” 100,000 hands. The result can be expected to be accurate to 0.5 percent.)

1. A A 7 (66,604) versus Q Q 7 (33,396)
Dead Cards: none
Comment : This result shows that it is rarely correct to play a smaller pair against a sure larger pair, unless you have an overcard kicker.

2. A A 7 (63,893) versus Q Q 7 36,107)
Dead Cards: none
Comment : Having a two-flush does help a little bit but not enough to make this hand worth playing.

3. A A 7 (63,159) versus Q Q 7 (36,841)
Dead Cards: A Comment: His dead ace is a little better than you having a two-flush, but again, the hand is not worth getting involved with if you are positive you are against the higher pair.

4. A A 6 (61,441) versus 9 9 J (38,559)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: This hand show the value of a straight flush kicker.

5. A A 6 (63,920) versus 9 9 J (36,080) Dead Cards: none
Comment: Just having a straight card for a kicker is not as strong.

6. A A 6 (62,596) versus 5 5 3 (37,404)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Another example of a straight flush kicker.

7. A A 2 (66,704) versus 8 8 3 (33,296)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: This is another example of the strength of a big pair.

8. A A 2 (69,846) versus 8 8 3 A (30,154)

Dead Cards: none
Comment: If you hold the larger pair, and your opponent catches your card, it helps rather than hurts, since it make it harder for him to draw out.

9. K K 8 (55,804) versus Q Q A (44,196)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: An overcard kicker does make a difference. Also, the two-flush is of some help. Now you must play.

10. A A 7 (68,439) versus J 6 2 (38,561)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: A three-flush against a bigger pair does not do very well in heads-up pots, unless it includes an ovrercard.

11. A A 7 (69,520) versus J 6 2 (30,480)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having a two-flush makes the hand with the big pair even stronger.

12. A A 7 (72,676) versus J 6 2 (27,324)
Dead Cards: 5 , Q
Comment: This shows the effect of having dead cards. The three-flush is now clearly unplayable heads-up.

13. Q Q 7 (60,128) versus A 9 2 (39,872)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having an overcard with a three-flush makes a difference. It is definitely correct to take a card off, even in heads-up situations.

14. Q Q 7 (60,128) versus A 9 2 (36,382)

Dead Cards: 5 , 8
Comment: Again, this shows the effect of dead cards.

15. Q Q 7 (57,955) versus T 9 7 (42,045)
Dead Cards: None
Comment: This match-up clearly shows that a three-card-straight flush is clearly playable against an overpair.

16. Q Q 7 (71,232) versus 8 9 10 (28,768)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Notice that the three-straight is not that live since two queens and a seven are in the other hand. The three-straight therefore should be thrown away.

17. Q Q 7 (68,901) versus 4 5 6 (31,099)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: This three-straight is more live than the previous one and does better. It is still probably wrong however to take a card off since it has no overcards.

18. Q Q 7 (71,999) versus 45 6 (28,001)
Dead Cards: 3 , 3
Comment: Again, this illustrates the effect of dead cards.

19. J 8 6 3 (51,627) versus A A 9 2 (48,383)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: On fourth street, a four-flush is usually a slight favorite over a big pair.

20. J 8 6 3 (57,230) versus 99 7 3 (42,770)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: When the four-flush includes an overcard, it is an even bigger favorite. A raise is thus frequently in order.

21. A Q 9 4 (62,097) versus 10 10 9 7 (37,903)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Two overcards make things even better.

22. J J 7 5 4 (59,888) versus A A 8 6 3 (40,112).
Dead Cards: none
Comment: On fifth street, a pair and a four-flush is a significant favorite against a bigger pair. Again this usually means raise.

23. A K Q (38,642) versus 9 9 T (61,358)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Three overcards against a pair is a marginal poker hand (especially with only one straight possibility). This result may surprise many readers.

24. A KQ (40,199) versus 9 9 T (59,801)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: A two-flush helps the three high cards a little.

25. A KQ (41,728) versus 9 9 3 (58,272)
Dead Cards: none
Comment : The pair now does slightly poorer since it does not have a two-straight.

26. 6 7 8 (51,329) versus J J 3 (48,671)

Dead Cards: J, J, 3 , 3 . 3
Comment: Here’s what happens when your hand is completely dead. It’s an underdog to a small three-card straight. That’s why we tell you to dump hands such as this.

27. 8 9 T (45,940) versus 7 7 2 (54,060)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: The three-straight (with the three overcards) would have done even better had the pair of sevens not been in the opposing hand. Still, the three-straight is easily worth playing.

28. J J 9 3 2 (65,899) versus 6 6 10 5 4 (34,101)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: A small pair with no overcards is a big dog to a larger pair on fifth street. Thus it should be folded, especially since it already may be against two pair.

29. J J 9 3 2 (61,308) versus 6 6 A 5 4 (38,692)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: The ace does make the hand playable.

30. J J 9 3 2 (74,911) versus 6 6 10 5 4 (25,089)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: The ace does not help enough if you are up against a four-flush as well as the big pair.

31. J J 9 3 2 (60,508) versus 6 6 A K 4 (39,492)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: The second overcard helps a little more.

32. J J 9 3 2 (55,728) versus 6 6 A K Q (44,272)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Now this hand has not only three overcards but straight potentials as well.

33. J J 9 3 2 (62,562) versus 6 6 10 5 4 (37,103)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having a three-flush and a three-straight with the small pair does make a difference.

34. J J 9 3 2 (62,562) versus 6 6 10 5 4 (37,438)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having only a three-flush with the small pair means that your decision to continue on will be a close one.

35. Q Q A (62,699) versus (K 6 4 (37,301)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: The overcard to the pair helps the three-flush.

36. J J J (85,425) versus A A 2(14,575)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Rolled up trips is a very strong starting hand.

37. J J J (89,607) versus A A 2 J (10,493)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: When you have trips, if your opponent catches your card, it helps more than it hurts if he was drawing to one or two pair.

38. J J J (72,399) versus 2 2 2 (27,601)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having the higher rolled up poker hand is a large advantage.

39. 2 2 2 8 (75,880) versus AA KK (24,120)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Even a hand with two big pairs does not fare well against a set.

40. J J 40 4 (55,182) versus AA 2 6 (44,818)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: A big pair does okay against two smaller pair. Clearly you must “chase” to the river.

41. A A 26 (59,314) versus J J 6 9 (40,686)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Having a pair with a three-flush is enough to continue playing on fourth street against a larger pair.

42. J J 4 5 (77,003) versus 3 3 2 2 (22,997)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Small two pair does not fare well against a larger two pair and should be thrown away.

43. 3 3 2 2 (51,515) versus J J 6 9 (48,485)

Dead Cards: none
Comment: A small two pair versus a larger pair with a three-flush is only a small favorite.

44. K K 3 (41,511) versus Q Q 2 (26,591) versus J A J (31,898) Dead Cards: none
Comment: The small pair with the big overcard kicker is playable in this three way confrontation. The pair in the middle has the worst of it.

45. K K 3 (44,834) versus Q Q 2 (28,127) versus J A J (27,039) Dead Cards: J
Comment: The missing jack makes the hand probably not worth playing.

46. Q Q 2 (40,487) versus T T 4(27,507) versus 5 K 5 (32,006)
Dead Cards: none
Comment: Another example of how the overcard kicker makes the small pair playable against two larger pairs.

47. Q Q 6 (26,241) versus Q Q 7 (27,862) versus 4 4 A (45,897)
Dead Cards: None
Comment: A small pair with a large overcard kicker is a big money favorite against two players who each hold a large pair of the same rank.

48. Q Q 2 (30,916) versus Q Q 3 (33,642) versus 9 8 7 (35,442)
Dead Cards: None
Comment: Even a three-straight with no overcards is a favorite against two of the same pair.