Preflop odds!

Especially tournaments, a player is often confronted with large bets and raises. It is important, if faced against a big raise, that the player has understanding of odds and the value of the hand he or she has. In no limit games a large raise often means you are up against a very strong hand and to know the odds you have with a hand against a strong hand is advantageous.

Below are the odds for the usual heads-up situations:

AA vs. KK: AA has about 80% to win the pot. That goes for all over pairs against under pairs.
AKs vs AQs: AKs has about 70% to win, the AQ has about 26% and there is a 4% of split pot.
An Ace against another Ace with lower kicker: the Ace with higher kicker has in most cases about 70% chance to win unless both kickers are low, then the chance of split is higher.
AK, AQ, AJ or other high over cards against pocket pairs such as 77, 88 and 99: the pocket pairs are slight favourites to win with a 55% chance to win. If the over cards are suited the odds are about 53% against 47% to the pocket pairs favour.
A10 vs. KQ and other hands in the middle: A10 has about 60% chance.
A10 vs. 78 and other hands with two under cards: The over cards have about 65% chance of winning the pot.
A10 vs. K 8 and other hands where one card is in the middle: The high hand has between 60-65% of winning depending on suits.

Hope this help you all a bit when it comes to facing that tough desicion ;)

USC