Roland's Puzzle Challenge #15: I Like to Live Dangerously

[Roland Sackville]

Roland's Puzzle Challenge #15: I Like to Live Dangerously
Difficulty: Hard
Google allowed? NO

Roland was pontificating extemporaneously about a card game.

"Dodge City wasn't as tough as you see on TV and stuff, but it could get nasty at times. I was playing a game of Texas Hold 'Em with Bat Masterson -- you can use the googles to find out about him -- and I really thought I had it this time. I had a nice set of suited connectors -- eight and nine of spades. Now, some people today say that that's not a very good hand, based on math, but you've got to have the balls sometimes to play what you've got.

Flop comes down Ace of clubs, seven of spades, six of spades, and Bat, the crazy guy that he was, raises it about triple, if you can believe it. Got everyone else to turn yella and get out, but not me, no brother. Ace of diamonds came on the turn, and the guy shoved his entire stack into the pot, and that made me in a tough place, y'know? Maybe he's slow playing pocket rockets -- maybe he had the Eyes of Texas, right?

Now, if he got the pocket rockets, my only chance would be to turn a straight flush, and that's not very likely is it?

Here's your questions for the day -- what ARE my odds of gettin' that straight flush?
What are my odds of gettin' ANY straight or flush?
And what do ya think I did with my hand?

[Aisha Khan]

Aisha cautiously raised her hand "Could you please translate that into modern English?"

[Roland Sackville]

"Um...which part?" Roland said, confused.

[Aisha Khan]

"Flop, for a start. And pocket rocket and, um" she looked down at her notes "Eyes of Texas."

[Roland Sackville]

"The flop are the first three community cards, exposed before the second round of betting." Roland explained. "In Texas Hold ''Em, every player gets two secret cards, and then they use some of the five community hands to make the best hand possible.

Pocket Rockets and the Eyes of Texas both refer to having a pair of Aces, which is pretty good."

[Haley Crusek]

"He's speakin' my language for a change," Haley drawled, heavily, heavily exaggerating her accent.

[Roland Sackville]

"See? H...Miss Crusek knows, as the vernacular says, what is up."