Interesting: hand strength = time, deck = memory map
It's quite obvious that things that are more rare are easier to remember. But the way this works in poker is quite amazing, I think. That's because there are 2 factors instead of just 1 - value and suit. They both perfectly cooperate with the difficulty level of memorization within a 5 card poker hand.
So, when you are dealt 5 random cards from a 52 deck and asked to remember them (value and suit) for as long as you can, you can be sure that:
>>>The higher the hand strength (type), the longer time you'll be able to remember the cards.
T♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠ - You have to remember only 1 suit.
4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ - You have to remember 1 suit and one value (top card).
A♥ A♠ A♣ A♦ 6♥ - You have to remember one value + one value with suit (kicker).
7♣ 7♠ 7♥ K♦ K♥ - You have to remember one value with 3 suits (trips) + one value with 2 suits (pair).
K♠ J♠ 9♠ 6♠ 2♠ - You have to remember five values and 1 suit.
7♣ 8♦ 9♦ T♠ J♥ - You have to remember five values with 5 suits.
4♥ 4♣ 4♠ 8♣ A♥ - You have to remember one value with 3 suits (trips) + two values with 2 suits (kickers).
8♦ 8♥ 2♣ 2♥ 5♠ - You have to remember one value with 2 suits (pair) + one value with 2 suits (pair) + one value with suit (kicker).
Q♠ Q♣ 2♦ 5♥ 9♥ - You have to remember one value with 2 suits (pair) + three values with 3 suits (kickers).
3♦ 4♦ 7♣ 9♠ K♠ - You have to remember five values with 5 suits.
I'm not sure where this leads to, but it must lead somewhere...
8 Replies
For my hole cards, I find the values easy to recall. For suits I use acronyms. Ie 7d6c would be 76 District of Columbia, AhQd would be Ace Queen Hard Drive.
It's not very useful at a poker table, but as far as the science goes, it's a small discovery 😀
So, what you're saying is, there are fewer ways to make rare hands?
Yes, I don't really understand why anyone would need to memorise the board when it's right in front of them?
Well, yes, but what if you win a big tournament and there's a flush on the board in the final hand. You are going to remember this hand for a much longer time than if it was only a pair 😀
I know something about it because in 2008 I hit a spade Royal Flush in MTT I will remember for the rest of my life even though it wasn't the final hand 😀
I'm sure this leads to something bigger, but I haven't figured it out yet.