The derivations require identifying the individual cases that yield each possible hand and are sometimes rather detailed, so it is useful to use a notation to indicate the shape of the board for each case. The rank type of the hand is shown using upper case letters to indicate ranks. The ranks on the board are indicated using upper case letters for matches with the starting hand and lower case letters to indicate ranks that don't match the starting hand. So the rank type XXYZ is any hand with a pair of X with two additional ranks Y and Z and the board XYr represents a flop that contains one X, one of the non-paired ranks Y and one other rank r. Note that since Y and Z have an identical relationship to the starting hand—each represents an unpaired rank—XYr and XZr represent the same set of boards and are interchangeable, so derivations for this hand choose one of the two choices represented by Y. In addition to the upper and lower case letters, * is used to represent any rank not already represented on the board, and ? is used to represent any rank not already represented on the board and not included in the starting hand. So for the rank type XXYZ, the board XX* represents a flop that contains two Xs and any other rank (including Y and Z), but X?? is any flop that contains an X and any two cards of a rank other than X, Y or Z, and rrr?? is any board on the river that contains three cards of rank r and any two cards of ranks other than X, Y, Z or r.
Each table shows all of the boards that can make each hand and the derivation for the combinations for that board. Probabilities are determined by dividing the number of combinations for each hand by the boards on the flop, boards on the turn, and boards at the river. The probabilities for the boards in each table total 1.0.
Starting hands with four of a kind (XXXX) can only improve to a full house or two pair. To make a full house, this hand needs to have three cards of the same rank appear on the board. To make two pair, another pair on the board is needed. Of course, any other hand holding a pair also makes at least a full house or two with either of these boards. The following table shows the derivations for making a full house, two pair or one pair when holding four of a kind.
Derivations for rank type XXXX (four of a kind) on the flop
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Full house
rrr
48
0.0027752
359.3 : 1
Two pair
rrs
3,168
0.1831637
4.5 : 1
One pair
rst
14,080
0.8140611
0.2 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXXX (four of a kind) on the turn
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Full house
rrr*
2,112
0.0108541
91.1 : 1
rrrr
12
0.0000617
16,214.0 : 1
Total
2,124
0.0109158
90.6 : 1
Two pair
rrss
2,376
0.0122109
80.9 : 1
rrst
63,360
0.3256244
2.1 : 1
Total
65,736
0.3378353
2.0 : 1
One pair
rstu
126,720
0.6512488
0.5 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXXX (four of a kind) on the river
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Full house
rrr**
45,408
0.0265187
36.7 : 1
rrrr*
528
0.0003084
3,242.0 : 1
Total
45,936
0.0268270
36.3 : 1
Two pair
rrsst
95,040
0.0555042
17.0 : 1
rrstu
760,320
0.4440333
1.3 : 1
Total
855,360
0.4995375
1.0 : 1
One pair
rstuv
811,008
0.4736355
1.1 : 1
Derivations for starting hands with three of a kind
To make a full house or three or four of a kind, starting hands with three of a kind (XXXY) need to either catch the case (last) X or catch two or three of the remaining Y cards (YY or YYY). They also improve to a full house if three or more of another rank appears on the board (rrr or rrrr), although any other hand holding a pair also makes a full house with this board. Three of a kind makes two pair if either a Y card or another pair appears on the board. The following tables show all the ways for XXXY to make four of a kind, a full house, three of a kind, two pair or one pair on the flop, turn and river.
Derivations for rank type XXXY (three of a kind) on the flop
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
YYY
1
0.0000578
17,295.0 : 1
Full house
XYY
3
0.0001735
5,764.3 : 1
Xrr
66
0.0038159
261.1 : 1
rrr
44
0.0025439
392.1 : 1
Total
113
0.0065333
152.1 : 1
Three of a kind
XYr
132
0.0076318
130.0 : 1
Xrs
880
0.0508788
18.7 : 1
YYr
132
0.0076318
130.0 : 1
Total
1,144
0.0661425
14.1 : 1
Two pair
Yrr
198
0.0114477
86.4 : 1
rrs
2,640
0.1526364
5.6 : 1
Total
2,838
0.1640842
5.1 : 1
One pair
Yrs
2,640
0.1526364
5.6 : 1
rst
10,560
0.6105458
0.6 : 1
Total
13,200
0.7631822
0.3 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXXY (three of a kind) on the turn
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
YYY*
45
0.0002313
4,323.0 : 1
Full house
XYYr
132
0.0006784
1,473.1 : 1
XYrr
198
0.0010176
981.7 : 1
Xrrs
2,640
0.0135677
72.7 : 1
rrr*
1,936
0.0099496
99.5 : 1
rrrr
11
0.0000565
17,688.1 : 1
Total
4,917
0.0252698
38.6 : 1
Three of a kind
XYrs
2,640
0.0135677
72.7 : 1
Xrst
10,560
0.0542707
17.4 : 1
YY??
2,838
0.0145853
67.6 : 1
Total
16,038
0.0824237
11.1 : 1
Two pair
Yrrs
7,920
0.0407031
23.6 : 1
rrss
1,980
0.0101758
97.3 : 1
rrst
47,520
0.2442183
3.1 : 1
Total
57,420
0.2950971
2.4 : 1
One pair
Yrst
31,680
0.1628122
5.1 : 1
rstu
84,480
0.4341659
1.3 : 1
Total
116,160
0.5969781
0.7 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXXY (three of a kind) on the river
Starting hands with two pair (XXYY) can improve to three of a kind, a full house or four of a kind when one or more of the four remaining X or Y cards appears (X, XX or XY). They also improve to a full house if three or more of another rank appears on the board (rrr or rrrr), although any other hand holding a pair also makes at least a full house with this board. If another pair appears the hand makes two pair, although any other hand holding a pair also makes at least two pair. The following tables show all the ways for XXYY to make four of a kind, a full house, three of a kind, two pair or one pair on the flop, turn and river.
Derivations for rank type XXYY (two pair) on the flop
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XX*
92
0.0053191
187.0 : 1
Full house
Xrr
264
0.0152636
64.5 : 1
rrr
44
0.0025439
392.1 : 1
Total
308
0.0178076
55.2 : 1
Three of a kind
XY?
176
0.0101758
97.3 : 1
Xrs
3,520
0.2035153
3.9 : 1
Total
3,696
0.2136910
3.7 : 1
Two pair
rrs
2,640
0.1526364
5.6 : 1
One pair
rst
10,560
0.6105458
0.6 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXYY (two pair) on the turn
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XXYY
1
0.0000051
194,579.0 : 1
XXYr
176
0.0009045
1,104.6 : 1
XX??
1,892
0.0097235
101.8 : 1
Total
2,069
0.0106332
93.0 : 1
Full house
XYrr
264
0.0013568
736.0 : 1
Xrrr
176
0.0009045
1,104.6 : 1
Xrrs
10,560
0.0542707
17.4 : 1
rrrr
11
0.0000565
17,688.1 : 1
rrrs
1,760
0.0090451
109.6 : 1
Total
12,771
0.0656337
14.2 : 1
Three of a kind
XYrs
3,520
0.0180902
54.3 : 1
Xrst
42,240
0.2170829
3.6 : 1
Total
45,760
0.2351732
3.3 : 1
Two pair
rrss
1,980
0.0101758
97.3 : 1
rrst
47,520
0.2442183
3.1 : 1
Total
49,500
0.2543941
2.9 : 1
One pair
rstu
84,480
0.4341659
1.3 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXYY (two pair) on the river
Starting hands with one pair (XXYZ) can improve to three of a kind, a full house or four of a kind when either an X card is on the board or when two or three of the remaining Y or Z cards (YY or YYY) is on the board. They also improve to a full house if three or more of another rank is on the board (rrr or rrrr), although any other hand holding a pair also makes a full house with this board. These hands make two pair if another pair (rr) appears on the board. The following tables show all the ways for XXYZ to make four of a kind, a full house, three of a kind, two pair or one pair on the flop, turn and river.
Derivations for rank type XXYZ (one pair) on the flop
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XX*
46
0.0026596
375.0 : 1
YYY
2
0.0001156
8,647.0 : 1
Total
48
0.0027752
359.3 : 1
Full house
XYY
12
0.0006938
1,440.3 : 1
Xrr
120
0.0069380
143.1 : 1
YYZ
18
0.0010407
959.9 : 1
rrr
40
0.0023127
431.4 : 1
Total
190
0.0109852
90.0 : 1
Three of a kind
XYZ
18
0.0010407
959.9 : 1
XYr
480
0.0277521
35.0 : 1
Xrs
1,440
0.0832562
11.0 : 1
YYr
240
0.0138760
71.1 : 1
Total
2,178
0.1259251
6.9 : 1
Two pair
YZr
360
0.0208141
47.0 : 1
Yrr
360
0.0208141
47.0 : 1
rrs
2,160
0.1248844
7.0 : 1
Total
2,880
0.1665125
5.0 : 1
One pair
Yrs
4,320
0.2497687
3.0 : 1
rst
7,680
0.4440333
1.3 : 1
Total
12,000
0.6938020
0.4 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXYZ (one pair) on the turn
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XX**
1,035
0.0053191
187.0 : 1
YYY*
90
0.0004625
2,161.0 : 1
Total
1,125
0.0057817
172.0 : 1
Full house
XYYZ
36
0.0001850
5,404.0 : 1
XYYr
480
0.0024669
404.4 : 1
XYrr
720
0.0037003
269.3 : 1
Xrrs
4,320
0.0222017
44.0 : 1
YYZZ
9
0.0000463
21,619.0 : 1
YYZr
720
0.0037003
269.3 : 1
rrr*
1,760
0.0090451
109.6 : 1
rrrr
10
0.0000514
19,457.0 : 1
Total
8,055
0.0413969
23.2 : 1
Three of a kind
XYZr
720
0.0037003
269.3 : 1
XYrs
8,640
0.0444033
21.5 : 1
Xrst
15,360
0.0789393
11.7 : 1
YY??
4,680
0.0240518
40.6 : 1
Total
29,400
0.1510947
5.6 : 1
Two pair
YZ??
7,020
0.0360777
26.7 : 1
Yrrs
12,960
0.0666050
14.0 : 1
rrss
1,620
0.0083256
119.1 : 1
rrst
34,560
0.1776133
4.6 : 1
Total
56,160
0.2886216
2.5 : 1
One pair
Yrst
46,080
0.2368178
3.2 : 1
rstu
53,760
0.2762874
2.6 : 1
Total
99,840
0.5131051
0.9 : 1
Derivations for rank type XXYZ (one pair) on the river
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XX***
15,180
0.0088652
111.8 : 1
YYY**
1,980
0.0011563
863.8 : 1
XXYYY
−2
−0.0000012
−856,153 : 1
Total (see #1 below)
17,158
0.0100204
98.8 : 1
Full house
XYYZZ
18
0.0000105
95,127.0 : 1
XYYZr
1,440
0.0008410
1,188.1 : 1
XYY??
9,360
0.0054663
181.9 : 1
XYZrr
1,080
0.0006307
1,584.5 : 1
XYrrs
25,920
0.0151375
65.1 : 1
Xrrss
3,240
0.0018922
527.5 : 1
Xrrst
69,120
0.0403667
23.8 : 1
YYZZr
360
0.0002102
4,755.4 : 1
YYZ??
14,040
0.0081995
121.0 : 1
rrr**
37,840
0.0220989
44.3 : 1
rrrXX
−40
−0.0000234
−42,808.6 : 1
rrrr*
440
0.0002570
3,890.6 : 1
Total (see #2 below)
162,818
0.0950871
9.5 : 1
Three of a kind
XYZrs
12,960
0.0075687
131.1 : 1
XYrst
92,160
0.0538222
17.6 : 1
Xrstu
107,520
0.0627926
14.9 : 1
YYrrs
12,960
0.0075687
131.1 : 1
YYrst
46,080
0.0269111
36.2 : 1
Total
271,680
0.1586634
5.3 : 1
Two pair
YZrrs
19,440
0.0113531
87.1 : 1
YZrst
69,120
0.0403667
23.8 : 1
Yrrss
9,720
0.0056766
175.2 : 1
Yrrst
207,360
0.1211000
7.3 : 1
rrsst
51,840
0.0302750
32.0 : 1
rrstu
322,560
0.1883778
4.3 : 1
Total
680,040
0.3971491
1.5 : 1
One pair
Yrstu
322,560
0.1883778
4.3 : 1
rstuv
258,048
0.1507022
5.6 : 1
Total
580,608
0.3390800
1.9 : 1
The board XXYYY is included in both XX*** and YYY**, so it is subtracted from the total.
The board rrrXX makes four of a kind X and is included in rrr**, so it is subtracted from the total.
Starting hands with no pair (XYZR) can improve when two or three of the remaining X, Y, Z or R cards (XX or XXX) appears on the board. These hands can make two pair or a full house when two of more ranks from the hand appear (XY or XXY). They also can make three of a kind or a pair if two or three other ranks (ss or sss) appear, although these boards are likely to improve other hands at least as much. The following tables show all the ways for XYZR to make four of a kind, a full house, three of a kind, two pair, one pair or no pair (high card) on the flop, turn and river.
Derivations for rank type XYZR (no pair) on the flop
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XXX
4
0.0002313
4,323.0 : 1
Full house
XXY
108
0.0062442
159.1 : 1
Three of a kind
XXs
432
0.0249769
39.0 : 1
sss
36
0.0020814
479.4 : 1
Total
468
0.0270583
36.0 : 1
Two pair
XYZ
108
0.0062442
159.1 : 1
XYs
1,944
0.1123959
7.9 : 1
Total
2,052
0.1186401
7.4 : 1
One pair
X??
7,560
0.4370953
1.3 : 1
sst
1,728
0.0999075
9.0 : 1
Total
9,288
0.5370028
0.9 : 1
No pair
stu
5,376
0.3108233
2.2 : 1
Derivations for rank type XYZR (no pair) on the turn
Hand to make
Board
Derivation
Combos
Probability
Odds
Four of a kind
XXX*
180
0.0009251
1,080.0 : 1
Full house
XXYY
54
0.0002775
3,602.3 : 1
XXYZ
324
0.0016651
599.6 : 1
XXYs
3,888
0.0199815
49.0 : 1
Total
4,266
0.0219241
44.6 : 1
Three of a kind
XX??
7,560
0.0388529
24.7 : 1
Xsss
432
0.0022202
449.4 : 1
ssss
9
0.0000463
21,619.0 : 1
ssst
1,152
0.0059204
167.9 : 1
Total
9,153
0.0470398
20.3 : 1
Two pair
XYZR
81
0.0004163
2,401.2 : 1
XYZs
3,888
0.0199815
49.0 : 1
XY??
34,020
0.1748381
4.7 : 1
Total
37,989
0.1952359
4.1 : 1
One pair
Xsst
20,736
0.1065680
8.4 : 1
Xstu
64,512
0.3315449
2.0 : 1
sstt
1,296
0.0066605
149.1 : 1
sstu
24,192
0.1243293
7.0 : 1
Total
110,736
0.5691027
0.8 : 1
No pair
stuv
32,256
0.1657724
5.0 : 1
Derivations for rank type XYZR (no pair) on the river