From caro@caro.com Sat Oct 23 18:31:38 BST 1999
Article: 92023 of rec.gambling.poker
From: Mike Caro <caro@caro.com>
Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker
Subject: Caro's $100 RGP Challenge #6
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 23:22:58 -0700

So, far we have given away $500 and five certificates to the winners
of the previous Caro $100 RGP challenges. Arguably this should be
challenge #5, not #6,  One challenge was divided into two separate
$100 prizes and I previously counted it as a single contest. This new
numbering is consistent with the number of winners.

This contest is statistical -- but anyone can play without knowing any
math whatsoever. It was suggested by none other than
rec.gambling.poker's very own Barbara Yoon. If you're interested in
another, non-mathematical, challenge, one will be coming soon.

OK, here is one of the things that Barbara suggested for the next
challenge. Actually, she proposed two $50 parts on this, but I've
chosen only a single $100 part. I'm using mostly her own words in the
next paragraph:

[BARBARA BEGIN] Card Player magazine some years ago pointed out that
of the 47,008 effectively different heads-up starting hands all-in
match-ups (see 'Caro's $100 Challenge #1,' October 1997, for
determination of this number), other than 'mirror-image' cases,
A-10-suited versus a pair of 3's, with one of the 3's being in suit
with the A-10, is the closest to even-money, with the pair of 3's just
barely favored at 50.007%.  The 'Caro's $100 Challenge' this time will
be to come up  the closest THREE-way match-up in hold'em.  [BARBARA
END]

The Card Player magazine article referenced was by regular expert
columnist W. Lawrence Hill. "Closest," for the sake of this challenge,
means that there is the smallest difference between the best and the
worst of the three hands when all play to the showdown. You do NOT
need to say what the percentages should be (although you can). We'll
determine that before awarding the prize. 

Here are my rules:

1. Your entries should consist almost entirely of the three
most-evenly performing hold 'em starting hands that will be played to
the showdown without regard to betting. Do not include any extra
commentary, except very short explanations or always-eligible
extraneous wording, such as, "Mike Caro could kick anyone's ass on any
given day at poker -- and usually does." There is no penalty for that
type of added statement, and your entry will remain eligible.

2. For the purpose of calculating the hands, one-half of a pot share
will be awarded to each co-winner on two-way ties and one-third of a
pot share on three-way ties.

3. Mirror-image hands, where two or more hands are logicially
identical except for differt suits, are not eligible unless the suit
difference actually means the hands will win different percentages or
will win the same percentage while faring differently in various
strength-of-hand categories.

4. Name the rank AND the suit of each card in each hand, using "c,"
"d," "h," "s" to identify clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades
respectively. Use "A," "K," "Q," "J," "10", "9".."2" to identify
ranks.

EXAMPLE ENTRY:

Hand A is Kh Qd
Hand B is 7s 2h
Hand C is Js Jh

The previous example would not make a good entry, however, because the
three hands are not very evenly matched when played to a showdown
without regard to betting.

5. Mike Caro or whomever he may delegate is the sole judge of the
winner and any decisions made by or delegated by him are final and
will not be reversed.

6. The entry judged the best by Mike Caro or whomever he may deligate
the task of judging will be declared the winner and will receive $100
and a certificate. If the the prize is awarded to the wrong contestant
for any reason whatsoever, there is no recourse.

7. Entries become jointly the property of the submitter, Mike Caro,
and anyone who reads them -- to be used in any future way whatsoever.

6. Entries must be publicly posted to rec.gambling.poker.

7. Only three entries are allowed per e-mail address. Any entries in
addition to the first three are ineligible. Contestants may post
entries separately or up to three in a single message.

8. All entries must be posted before 1 a.m. PST, October 31, 1999.

9.  Mike Caro reserves the right to clarify or modify this contest
while it is in progress.

10. Any entry posted later than any other must beat the previous best
entry by at least 0.005 percent to win. In other words, if an earlier
entry has a difference of 1.242 percent (0.01242) between the best and
worst hands and a later entry registers a slightly superior 1.240
percent (0.01240) difference, the earilier entry will be judged
better.  (This rule is to prevent everyone from hoarding their entries
until the last minute and spoiling the fun.)

Good luck!

Straight Flushes,
Mike Caro