David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth [1] assigned each hand to a group, and proposed all hands in the group could normally be played similarly. Stronger starting hands are identified by a lower number. Hands without a number are the weakest starting hands.
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| K | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||||
| Q | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||
| J | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
| T | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 6 | |||||||
| 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 7 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 8 | |||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 5 |
- Note: Unsuited on the bottom left, suited on the top right.
Chen Point Count
There is a way to compute the Skalansky Malmuth table for those people who have trouble memorizing. The results are almost identical to those generated using the Chen Point Count.[2] To compute the point count the following formula should apply:
- Take the high card and score it. A=10,K=8,Q=7,J=6,T-2 = 1/2 value shown.
- If the 2nd card pairs the first the value is either twice the high card point or 5 which ever is greater.
- If they are not paired then calculate the gap for the lower card and subtract off a gap penalty:.
- For a 0 gapper subtract 0,
- For a 1 gapper subtract 1
- For a 2 gapper subtract 2
- For a 3 gapper subtract 4
- For a 4 gapper or more subtract 5 (includes A2,A3,A4).
- If the cards are of the same suit apply a flush bonus of +2 pts.
- If the cards are a 0 or 1 gap and the top card is a J or lower apply a +1 straight bonus
- Round 1/2 point up
Then 12 – Chen Point Count in general is the SM hand grouping. Examples:
- 8♣ 8♠: 4 pts for the first 8, double for the pair is 8 Chen points. This puts it in S&M group 4.
- 9♣ 7♣: 4.5 points for the 9, -1 for the 1 gapper, +2 for the same suit and +1 for the straight bonus. Round up to 7 Chen points which is in S&M group 5.
The following hands are the exceptions (off by 1): 55, AQs, A9, AX, 96s, 32s, 98, 97, 76.
Notes
- ^ David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth (1999). Hold ’em Poker for Advanced Players. Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1880685221
- ^ Lou Krieger, Hold’em Excellence, ch Power Rating ISBN 1886070148
This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.
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