In the dark basement of the math department at the Simon Fraser Institute, Dr. Brian Alspach, professor of math and statistics, plots the end of on-line poker as we know it. He and many other game theorists frantically search for the "poker algorithm ". Their claim is that this algorithm will allow a programmed computer to play like a shark.

I for one believe that these game theorists are the academics of a pseudoscience. The poker algorithm and the "rise of the machines" are concepts as fancifully as Chris Moneymaker winning another bracelet. Besides which, the master formula for Texas Hold’em already exists and is as simple as 2 + 2 = 4. The master formula is commonly known as the 2,4 theory.

The 2,4 theory provides players with a ballpark probability of drawing their outs (card which will complete the winning hand). This predictive approximation is very useful in determining pot/implied odds. Let us see how it works

First one must count their number of outs, for instance: if you've got your fingers crossed on hitting either end of a straight draw then it is said that you have 8 outs. [2 cards X 4 suites]

The percent chance of hitting one of your cards on the turn is 2 times the number of outs. In this case the probability is 2 X 8 outs, or 16% . The probability of hitting one of your cards on the turn and river combined is 4 times the number of outs. In this case the probability is 4 X 8 outs or 32%.

The explanation is simple, your drawing odds can be represented as a fraction: where the numerator or the top of the fraction are the number of outs which complete your hand and the denominator are the number of cards remaining in the dealer’s deck . The simplifying assumption is that the dealer always has 50 cards in his deck. This is valid because although the dealer may have fewer than 50 cards, which would increase your odds of hitting outs, there is an equal likelihood your outs have been burned (discarded by the dealer) or are one of the hole cards (non-communal) of an opponent, which decrease your odds. These opposite factors negate each other. In the 2,4 theory the probability of turning your card is determined by multiplying your number of outs by two. This translates to multiplying the top and bottom of the fraction mentioned above by two.

where x is you number of outs:

The resultant fraction represents a chance per 100 or your per“cent” chance of hitting your card!