Poker Puzzle.

This one is doing the rounds on a few blogs at the moment.

You're playing a pot with me heads up in Texas Hold 'Em. The turn card has been dealt and you currently have the best hand. However, no matter what card comes on the river, you can't win. What are the two hands and what is on the board?

does splitting the pot qualify as 'winning'?

JJ? This can never be the nuts after the river, so anything less than a J can be on the board - there will at least be a straight draw.

what about 234JJ rainbow? JJ is the nuts there...
it's something different i think.

I have J3
You have J2
Board is 4569 rainbow

Any card splits the pot and a 3 gives you a win.

Nope that's not right, a 2 or a 7 gives me a straight. Hmmm, It going to be something like this where if I hit my bottom card you get the straight and the rest of the cards are a push.

Okay, after thinking for a good 30 minutes this is what I came up with. I promise I didn't cheat and google it.

The flop is:
334
The turn is:
4
Which makes a board of: 3344

You have:
27 (7 high)
Your opponent has:
56

You are currently leading with seven high. But no matter what card comes next you cant win, you can only tie or lose.

If the next card is a 2 your opponent will make a straight (23456)

If the next card is a 3 or 4 you and your opponent will make a fullhouse and it would be split.

If the next card is a 5 or 6 your opponent will make a higher 2 pair (55446, 66445)

If the next card is a 7 your opponent will make a straight (34567)

If the next card is an 8-Ace it would be a split pot (3344X)


I am pretty sure this is the correct answer. I actually feel pretty smart now.

Ouch my brain hurts. Here goes; P1:23 against P2:24 with a 5689 on the board. Currently P2 with 98654 is ahead. Anything pairs or a card higher then a 9 and its a push. 7 is a str8 for both also a push. If P2 pairs his 4 thats gives a str8 to P1 and the win. I must have missed something but...

lol - I meant if you don't hit the card on the board. I wasn't reading the question correctly. Quite obvious when looking at it again!!!

I have A, 7 hearts. You have 2,3 hearts. The board is: 4h, 5h, 6h? I'm guessing here.

Nope, you've got a straight flush, your opponents got an Ace flush so you're ahead.
I read Dastrey's post and couldn't pick the holes in it, so think he's got it.

Maybe there are multiple answers? dastrey's answer looks correct but I think mine works as well.

Nope, if 3 flops player 2 has straight and wins.

You are correct rob, darn it all. I can't find a hole in dastrey's so is his right? I didn't see the hole in mine either so....

I also have an answer.

I have 23 and you have 22. The board has 2 higher pairs without a straight draw for me. for instance 7788.
If the case 2 comes on the river, my opponent will have a boat, and any other card would mean we're both playing the board.
It's not as creative as the one dastrey made, but it still works.