Poker Practice Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: If you have two hearts in your hand and the flop has two hearts, how many outs do you have?

9 (Correct answer)
12
15
6

Correct answer: 9

In Texas Hold'em poker, there are 13 cards of each suit in a standard 52-card deck. If you have two hearts in your hand and the flop (the first three community cards) also contains two hearts, that means a total of four hearts are currently visible. To make a flush, you need one more heart. Since there are 13 hearts in total and 4 are already accounted for, there are 13 - 4 = 9 remaining hearts in the deck that could appear on the turn or river, giving you 9 'outs'.

Question 2: What is a Sit-and-Go tournament, and how does it work?

A special single-table tournament usually with 2,6,9, or 10 entrants. The top two finishers get paid in a 6 sit and go and the top three get paid in a 9 or 10 player tournament. (Correct answer)
It's the same as any other poker tournament with basically unlimited entrants.
A special table in some land-based poker rooms where players sit to wait until their tournament is ready.

Correct answer: A special single-table tournament usually with 2,6,9, or 10 entrants. The top two finishers get paid in a 6 sit and go and the top three get paid in a 9 or 10 player tournament.

A Sit-and-Go (SNG) tournament is a single-table poker tournament that begins as soon as the required number of players (typically 2, 6, 9, or 10) have registered. Unlike multi-table tournaments, there's no scheduled start time; it simply 'sits' until full and then 'goes'. Payouts are usually structured to reward the top two or three finishers, depending on the number of entrants.

Question 3: You're in the World Series of Poker Main Event, and an early position player moves all-in. When you inspect your hand, you find pocket Queens. What will you do?

Call
Fold (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Fold

In a prestigious tournament like the WSOP Main Event, an early position player moving all-in signals immense strength, almost certainly pocket Aces or Kings. Folding pocket Queens, while difficult, is a disciplined play to preserve your tournament life against a likely superior hand. The risk of busting out early against such a strong move is too high to justify calling.

Question 4: What is a satellite tournament, and how does it work?

A tournament played in space
A tournament that's played in one of the rooms surrounding instead of poker room.
A tournament that awards an entry to another tournament instead of cash prize. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A tournament that awards an entry to another tournament instead of cash prize.

A satellite tournament is a unique type of poker tournament where the prize isn't cash, but rather an entry or 'seat' into a larger, more expensive tournament. This allows players to qualify for high-stakes events, like the World Series of Poker Main Event, at a fraction of the direct buy-in cost. It's a common way for players to gain access to prestigious tournaments.

Question 5: How many outs do you have if you have an open-ended straight draw? A hand like 8-9-10-J is an open-end straight draw.

10
6
8 (Correct answer)
7

Correct answer: 8

An open-ended straight draw means you have four cards in a row and can complete a straight with a card on either end of that sequence. For example, with 8-9-10-J, any 7 or any Queen will complete your straight. Since there are four suits, there are four 7s and four Queens in the deck, giving you a total of 8 outs.

Question 6: You have pocket Eights from under the gun and three other players remain in an online Sit and Go event that pays the final three players. The blinds are 100 / 200, and you have 2,500 chips in your hand, which is the average stack size. So far, you've been playing a tight game. What should you do?

Limp
Raise $750 (Correct answer)
Move all-in
Fold

Correct answer: Raise $750

When you have both a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw, you combine the outs from both draws. A flush draw typically gives you 9 outs, and an open-ended straight draw gives you 8 outs. However, you must subtract any cards that would complete both draws (e.g., a 6 of hearts if you have 7h8h9hTh and the board is 6hJh). Assuming two such overlapping cards, you have 9 + 8 - 2 = 15 unique outs.

Question 7: What is a freeroll poker tournament, and how does it work?

A tournament where you get free roll to eat.
It's the same as the free-play tables you can play online, but in a tournament format instead of a cash game format.
A special tournament with no entry fee, but real prizes. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A special tournament with no entry fee, but real prizes.

A freeroll poker tournament is a special type of tournament that has no entry fee, meaning players can participate for free. Despite the free entry, these tournaments offer real prizes, which can include cash, merchandise, or entries into other paid tournaments. They are popular for new players to build a bankroll or for sites to attract players without financial risk.

Question 8: If you have a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw, how many outs do you have?

15 (Correct answer)
9
3
17

Correct answer: 15

With a small stack at a final table, you need to make a move to accumulate chips before the blinds become too large. Raising the size of the pot with pocket Nines against a loose chip leader from the button is an aggressive play that puts pressure on them. This move maximizes your fold equity and gives you a good chance to double up if called, as Nines are a strong hand against a wide range.

Question 9: With a small stack compared to the other eight players, you've made it to the final table of a large online multi-table tournament. Before the blinds become a problem, you have enough chips to play for at least an hour. The first place pays $200,000, while the ninth place pays $10,000. From the button, the chip leader, who has been playing exceptionally loose recently, is the first to raise to three times the big blind. In the big blind, you have pocket Nines and must call 10% of your stack if you decide to call. What should you do?

Raise the size of the pot (Correct answer)
Move all-in
Fold
Call

Correct answer: Raise the size of the pot

The blind structure defines how the blinds and antes increase throughout a poker tournament, as well as the duration of each level. This structure is crucial for tournament strategy, as it dictates the pace of play and how quickly players' stacks diminish relative to the blinds. A faster blind structure demands more aggressive play.

Question 10: What is a blind structure?

The blind structure is the amount of the blinds at each level of the tournament and how long between level is how fast the blinds go up. (Correct answer)
The window coverings in the poker room, which became a popular point of discussion in the early 200's.
I'm sure the blind structure has something to do with how much the blind area, but who cares how fast the blinds go up? We all have play by the same rules.

Correct answer: The blind structure is the amount of the blinds at each level of the tournament and how long between level is how fast the blinds go up.

If you have four cards to a flush on the flop, there are 9 remaining cards of that suit in the deck (13 total cards of a suit - 4 in your hand/on board). With 47 unknown cards remaining (52 total - 2 hole cards - 3 flop cards), the probability of hitting your flush on the turn is 9/47. This translates to odds of 38 to 9 against, which is approximately 4.22 to 1.

Question 11: What are the chances of drawing one of your outs on the turn if you have four to a flush on the flop?

5.71 to 1
4.22 to 1 (Correct answer)
4.88 to 1
6.83 to 1

Correct answer: 4.22 to 1

If calling only costs 5% of your stack, the pot odds become significantly more favorable, making it a worthwhile call with pocket Nines. This allows you to see a flop cheaply against a potentially loose opponent, giving you a chance to hit a set or re-evaluate the hand. It's a low-risk way to stay in the hand and potentially win a large pot.

Question 12: What if you just had to call 5% of your stack, and the rest of it was the same as the previous question?

Fold
Call (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Call

When you have both a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw, you typically have 15 outs (as explained in Q7). With 47 unknown cards remaining after the flop, the probability of hitting one of these 15 outs on the turn is 15/47. The odds against hitting are (47-15) to 15, which is 32 to 15, or approximately 2.13 to 1.

Question 13: If you hold a flush draw and an open-end straight draw on the flop, what are your chances of completing one of your draws on the turn?

1.94 to 1
1.61 to 1
2.13 to 1 (Correct answer)
1.77 to 1

Correct answer: 2.13 to 1

With Ace-King (AK) and a short stack (6 big blinds), you have excellent equity against a wide range of hands your opponent might raise with. Given the opponent's raise, moving all-in is the correct play to maximize your fold equity and realize your strong hand's potential. AK is a premium hand that plays very well as an all-in shove in this situation.

Question 14: What should you do if you're in the same situation as the last hand but have Ace-King instead of pocket Twos?

Call
Raise all-in (Correct answer)
Fold

Correct answer: Raise all-in

While tournament play has unique strategic elements, the fundamental principles of bluffing remain similar to cash games. Bluffing frequency should be determined by factors like opponent tendencies, table image, and perceived hand strength, not simply by the format. Over-bluffing or under-bluffing based solely on it being a tournament is generally not optimal.

Question 15: In TV tournaments, the pros are always bluffing. They appear to be bluffing a lot more than I'm used to in my cash game play. In a tournament, how often should I bluff?

Less often than in cash games
About the same amount as in cash games (Correct answer)
More often than in cash games

Correct answer: About the same amount as in cash games

With an open-ended straight draw, you have 8 outs. The pot is $250, and you need to call $100, giving you pot odds of $350 total pot / $100 call = 3.5:1. However, your odds of hitting the straight on the turn are approximately 4.88:1 (from Q24). Since your pot odds are worse than your actual odds of hitting, calling is not mathematically profitable in the long run, making a fold the correct decision.

Question 16: On the flop, you have an open-ended straight draw in the same no limit Texas Hold'em game. You know you need to strike a straight to win, but you're up against a $100 stake and a pot of $250, including the bet. What should you do?

Fold (Correct answer)
Call
Raise the minimum
Raise all-in

Correct answer: Fold

With a very short stack (6 big blinds) and pocket Twos, being the first to act is a difficult spot. Pocket Twos are a weak hand that plays poorly multi-way and often doesn't improve enough to win. Folding preserves your remaining chips, as raising or limping would likely commit you to a bad situation against stronger hands, and you need to wait for a better spot.

Question 17: What if you're in the same situation as the last two questions in terms of stack size and blinds, but you're the first to act with a pair of Twos?

Fold (Correct answer)
Limp
Move all-in

Correct answer: Fold

This is a classic ICM (Independent Chip Model) spot where preserving your tournament life is paramount. With 110 players and 100 getting paid, you are on the bubble. Two players already all-in indicates extreme strength, likely Aces or Kings. Folding pocket Kings, despite their strength, is correct to guarantee a payout, as the risk of busting out just before the money outweighs the potential gain of winning a large pot.

Question 18: You're in a multi-table tournament with a top 100 finisher. You have an average chip stack with 110 players remaining in the event. You can reach the money without difficulty if you simply fold every hand. An early position player moves all-in and another player calls. Both of them have larger chip stacks than you have. You search for pocket Kings. So, what's your plan?

Flip a coin
Fold (Correct answer)
Call. Nobody fold pocket Aces

Correct answer: Fold

The '4 and 2 rule' is a common poker shortcut used to quickly estimate the probability of hitting a draw. You multiply your number of outs by 4 to estimate your chance of hitting on the turn or river, and by 2 to estimate your chance of hitting on just the turn or just the river. This provides a quick, rough estimate of your equity in a hand.

Question 19: Experienced poker players often use a shortcut rule to assess the likelihood of hitting their draws on the turn, river, or both the turn and river. Which of the following is the meaning of this rule?

The rule of 21
The 6 and 3 rule
The 4 and 2 rule (Correct answer)
The rule of 36

Correct answer: The 4 and 2 rule

If your primary goal is to win the tournament, you must take calculated risks to build a large stack. In this scenario, calling with pocket Kings against two all-ins, despite the risk, offers a massive opportunity to become a chip leader if you win. The potential reward of a huge stack for a tournament win outweighs the risk of busting out before the money, given your changed objective.

Question 20: What would you answer to the last question if you were more concerned with winning the tournament as a whole instead of just getting into the money?

Call (Correct answer)
Fold
Flip a coin

Correct answer: Call

While Ace-King against a lower pocket pair can be a 'coin flip' in terms of raw equity, pros often make these moves in specific contexts, such as when short-stacked, in late stages of a tournament, or against particular opponents. Blindly shoving AK every time without understanding stack sizes, opponent ranges, and ICM implications is a mistake and will likely lead to poor results.

Question 21: On television, I frequently see pros going all-in with Ace-King versus lower pocket pairs. These hands, according to what I've read, are essentially coin flips. Shouldn't I do it every chance I get because the pros do it all the time?

No (Correct answer)
Yes

Correct answer: No

Even with a combined 15 outs (flush + open-ended straight draw), your odds of hitting on the river are approximately 2.13:1 against. If your opponent has you covered and you can preserve your stack by folding, it's often the correct play to avoid a high-variance coin flip when you have tournament life. You would need very good pot odds to justify calling such a large bet.

Question 22: On the turn, you're heads-up against a single opponent with an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw. Your opponent has just moved all-in, and she has you covered. If you fold, you'll have enough chips to keep playing for a long time. What should you do?

Call
Fold (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Fold

With only 6 big blinds (1200 chips) and facing a significant raise from an early position player, pocket Twos are a very weak hand. Calling would commit most of your stack with poor equity, and raising all-in would be a desperate move with a hand unlikely to improve or have sufficient fold equity. Folding is the best option to preserve your remaining chips and wait for a better spot with a stronger hand.

Question 23: You're in the middle of a large multi-table tournament and you're running low on chips. You realize you'll have to act quickly to try to double up. Your stack is 1200 and the blinds are 100/200. In late position, an early position player with more chips than you raises to 900, and you hold pocket Twos. What should you do?

Fold (Correct answer)
Raise all-in
Call

Correct answer: Fold

While tournament play introduces unique elements like ICM, blind structures, and survival considerations, a strong foundation in cash game poker provides a significant advantage. Understanding hand values, pot odds, position, and opponent reads are core skills that are highly transferable, making the transition easier for skilled cash game players to adapt to tournament specifics.

Question 24: Is this correct or incorrect? I'm a great cash game poker player, so I shouldn't have too much trouble transitioning to tournament play.

False
True (Correct answer)

Correct answer: True

An open-ended straight draw has 8 outs. On the flop, there are 47 unknown cards remaining (52 total - 2 hole cards - 3 flop cards). The probability of hitting one of your 8 outs on the turn is 8/47. The odds against hitting are (47-8) to 8, which is 39 to 8, or approximately 4.88 to 1.

Question 25: What are your odds of finishing your straight on the turn if you have an open-ended straight draw on the flop?

5.71 to 1
4.88 to 1 (Correct answer)
4.22 to 1
6.83 to 1

Correct answer: 4.88 to 1

Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in mammals are unique because they lack mitochondria, the organelles essential for aerobic respiration. Consequently, RBCs cannot fully metabolize glucose to carbon dioxide and water through the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Instead, they rely exclusively on anaerobic glycolysis for their energy needs.

Poker Practice Test

If you have two hearts in your hand and the flop has two hearts, how many outs do you have?