CARD AND DICE GAMES
What are card games?
A collection of cards (or a deck) is a set of nrectangular pieces, usually made of heavy
coated paper or cardboard, that hold special varying markings on one side and a uni-
form, identical pattern on the other. The special markings make each card unique,
with each marking representing something playable in a certain card game.
The most common cards for games is a 52-card deck represented by four
specifically colored suits (spades and clubs in black, diamonds and hearts in red),
with 13 cards of each suit numbered 1 through 10, followed by several face cards—
jack (J), queen (Q), and king (K). Card “1” is usually an “ace”; card 11 is represent-
ed by a “jack,” 12 by a “queen,” and 13 by a “king.” The value of the ace often
changes depending on the game. For example, it can either hold a value of 1 or 11
(in blackjack) or 14 (in bridge). Such cards are also used for many gambling games,
such as poker and baccarat. Interestingly enough, the investigation of the probabil-
ities of various outcomes in card games was one of the original motivations for the
development of modern probability theory. (For more about probability, see
“Applied Mathematics.”)
What are the probabilitiesand oddsof being initially dealt certain hands in
five-card pokerand bridge?
Because there are a certain number of cards in a playing deck, mathematicians have
worked out the probabilities and odds of being dealt certain hands for certain games.
The following explains the odds in terms of “chances against : chances for.” 431
RECREATIONAL MATH
What are the probability and odds
of drawing a certain card from a deck?T
he probability of an event is usually described as the chances for the event to
occur over the total chances for the event to occur (chances for / total
chances). In the case of a deck of 52 cards, the probability of drawing a king from
the deck is 4/52 1/13 0.077, or 7.7 percent. As seen above, the odds, or the
ratio of chances for to chances against (chances for : chances against) can be
found by the formula: total chances equals the chances for plus chances against
(or total chances chances for chances against, or chances against total
chances chances for). Thus, the odds of picking a king from a deck of 52 cards
is 4:(52 4) 4:48 1:12.