Let's play a game of poker~

[Kaitou Kid Legendary Thief 197]

POKER!!!... Not!! >__< nah... It's working is similar but no it's not... Anyway I typed this at wee hours of the night... I hope it's not messy...

Anyway... This is a strategy game using the rules and rankings of poker. If you don't know how to play poker, you might like to read the poker rules on wiki.

Referenced from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poker_hands

Else you can read the spoiler below:

In poker, each player will be dealt with 5 cards.

This is called your hand.

You win if you got the best hand.

There's also this session where you will discard some cards and exchange for another set... but in this game, you will only need to know the rankings of the sets.

Poker ranking: (1 highest)

1) Royal Flush - The largest straight flush (All the royals~)- A K Q J 10

2) Straight flush (Same suit with a sequence) - A 2 3 4 5

3) Four of a kind - A A A A 2

4) Fullhouse (3 same 2 same) - A A A 2 2

5) Flush (same suit)- K 10 7 4 2

6) Straight - 3 4 5 6 7

7) Three in a row - A A A 2 7

8) Two pair - A A 2 2 K

9) One pair - A A 2 8 K

Scenario: (If you dont wanna read this. Go to SUMMARY)

There are a total of 5 players in the game. 5 of you have been dealt with 5 cards each faced up. Everybody's mission is to stay in the game as long as possible. The only way to stay in the game, is to get at least a ranked hand (one of the above). Once you have a hand which could be ranked, everyone will be ranked according to how good is their hand. According to this, they will acquire a sum of money. However, in a specific rank, no matter how good it is in the same rank, the payout will be the same. So in order to earn more money, one will have to go up a rank.

For the person with the best hand, they will have their payout doubled.

You, on the other hand, had the toughest of luck and is dealt a hand which is unranked.

However, do not fret. Because there is one other rule which can help you.

During change phase, you are allowed to change your cards with your opponents to strengthen your hand. Thus, you have the chance to turn this to your favour.

After the dealings, you realized that all your opponents have a hand which can be ranked. As such, all of them are safe and none is interested in going around to exchange for cards.

However, this was not the case for you. You will have to find ways to exchange cards with them. This, however would not be easy. The only way to let them exchange cards with you, is to exchange cards with them such that it will increase the rank of their hands. If their hand remains at the same rank, they will not be interested to exchange with you.

In other words... SUMMARY:

You must exchange your cards with other players to up the rank of your hand.

You must offer your opponent cards which will increase their overall rank of their hand or they will not exchange with you.

You can change as many times as you like.

You can also change more than one card at the same time.

Get the BEST hand.

With the above knowledge, HOW would you exchange the cards such that... NOT ONLY to increase the rank of your hand, but also getting the BEST HAND?

--------------------------------

This is the allocation of the cards:

(For convenience sake, I will use <s> for spades, <h> for hearts, <d> for diamonds, and <c> for clubs. (E.g K<c> is King of clubs and 4<s> is 4 of spades...)

P1: J<d> 10<d> 7<d> 4<d> 2<d>

P2: 10<h> 10<c> 5<h> 5<d> 7<s>

P3: K<d> K<s> A<h> 3<h> 2<h>

P4: 6<h> 6<c> 5<s> 3<d> A<d>

This is your hand:

K<h> 10<s> 7 <h> 5<c> 3<s>

HOW (in what order) will you exchange cards with the other players, such that you will get the best hand out of all of them?

--------

Edits:

E.g You might want to show it like this: (King hearts exchange with Player 3's 2 hearts... etc.)

K<h> <--> P3: 2<h> (to 3 of a kind)

10<s> <--> P2: 7<s> (to full house)

...

Whichever way you express is fine. Most importantly, just show the end result of your hand.

:V If its too difficult. Ask for a hint.

[tengaku squared 291]

OMG, a logic puzzle.

Anyways, here's my solution:

1) Trade with P2:

P2 hand: 10<h> 10<c> 5<h> 5<d> 7<s> (two pair)

My hand: K<h> 10<s> 7 <h> 5<c> 3<s> (unranked)

Trading: P2's 5<h> and 5<d> for my 10<s> and 7 <h>

P2 hand after: 10<h> 10<c> 10<s> 7<s> 7 <h> (two pair to full house)

My hand after: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 3<s> (nothing to three of a kind)

2) Trade with P4:

P4 hand: 6<h> 6<c> 5<s> 3<d> A<d> (one pair)

My hand: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 3<s> (three of a kind)

Trading: P4's 5<s> for my 3<s>

P4 hand after: 6<h> 6<c> 3<d> 3<d> A<d> (one pair to two pair)

My hand after: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 5<s> (three of a kind to four of a kind)

At this point, I don't need to trade anymore, and here's why:

P1 has J<d> 10<d> 7<d> 4<d> 2<d> (flush)

P2 has 10<h> 10<c> 10<s> 7<s> 7 <h> (full house)

P3 has K<d> K<s> A<h> 3<h> 2<h> (one pair)

P4 has 6<h> 6<c> 3<d> 3<d> A<d> (two pair)

And I have a K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 5<s> (four of a kind), which trumps all the others.

[Kaitou Kid Legendary Thief 197]

OMG, a logic puzzle.

Anyways, here's my solution:

1) Trade with P2:

P2 hand: 10<h> 10<c> 5<h> 5<d> 7<s> (two pair)

My hand: K<h> 10<s> 7 <h> 5<c> 3<s> (unranked)

Trading: P2's 5<h> and 5<d> for my 10<s> and 7 <h>

P2 hand after: 10<h> 10<c> 10<s> 7<s> 7 <h> (two pair to full house)

My hand after: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 3<s> (nothing to three of a kind)

2) Trade with P4:

P4 hand: 6<h> 6<c> 5<s> 3<d> A<d> (one pair)

My hand: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 3<s> (three of a kind)

Trading: P4's 5<s> for my 3<s>

P4 hand after: 6<h> 6<c> 3<d> 3<d> A<d> (one pair to two pair)

My hand after: K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 5<s> (three of a kind to four of a kind)

At this point, I don't need to trade anymore, and here's why:

P1 has J<d> 10<d> 7<d> 4<d> 2<d> (flush)

P2 has 10<h> 10<c> 10<s> 7<s> 7 <h> (full house)

P3 has K<d> K<s> A<h> 3<h> 2<h> (one pair)

P4 has 6<h> 6<c> 3<d> 3<d> A<d> (two pair)

And I have a K<h> 5<h> 5<d> 5<c> 5<s> (four of a kind), which trumps all the others.

That was quick. A rep for you~ haha~

Anyways... For those who have already solved the above one. :V

Having solved the above puzzle, you proceed to the next level and you are dealt a new set of cards.

You look at your cards and think that luck is not on your side. You look at your opponent's hands, and find that there was no possible way to win this time round... or is there?

Card allocations:

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 6<h> 6<d>

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d>

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 5<h>

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h>

YOU: 10<d> 9<d> 7<h> 4<h> 2<h>

[tengaku squared 291]

Having solved the above puzzle, you proceed to the next level and you are dealt a new set of cards.

You look at your cards and think that luck is not on your side. You look at your opponent's hands, and find that there was no possible way to win this time round... or is there?

Card allocations:

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 6<h> 6<d>

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d>

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 5<h>

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h>

YOU: 10<d> 9<d> 7<h> 4<h> 2<h>

I'm seriously bored, can you tell?

Once again, let's look at the hands:

P1: 6<h> 6<d> 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> (full house)

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d> (full house)

P3: 3<d> 3<s> 5<h> J<h> J<s> (two pair)

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h> (one pair)

1) Trading with P1:

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 6<h> 6<d>

ME: 10<d> 9<d> 7<h> 4<h> 2<h>

Trading: His 6<h> for my 9<d>

P1 result: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 9<d> 6<d> (full house to four of a kind)

ME: 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h> 2<h>

2) Trading with P2:

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d>

ME: 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h> 2<h>

Trading: His Q<h> for my 2<h>

P2 result: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> 2<h> Q<d> (full house to four of a kind)

ME: Q<h> 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

3) Trading with P4:

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h>

ME: Q<h> 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

Trading: His 3<h> and 3<c> for my Q<h> and 10<d>

P4 result: 10<d> J<d> Q<h> K<d> A<h> (one pair to straight)

ME: 3<h> 3<c> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

4) Trading with P3:

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 5<h>

ME: 3<h> 3<c> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

Trade: His 5<h> for my 3<c>

P3 result: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 3<c> (two pair to full house)

ME: 3<h> 4<h> 5<h> 6<h> 7<h>

And here I stop. Let's look at the hands.

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 9<d> 6<d> (four of a kind)

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> 2<h> Q<d> (four of a kind)

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 3<c> (full house)

P4: 10<d> J<d> Q<h> K<d> A<h> (straight)

And I have: 3<h> 4<h> 5<h> 6<h> 7<h> (straight flush). Once again, this trumps all the other hands.

[Kaitou Kid Legendary Thief 197]

I'm seriously bored, can you tell?

Once again, let's look at the hands:

P1: 6<h> 6<d> 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> (full house)

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d> (full house)

P3: 3<d> 3<s> 5<h> J<h> J<s> (two pair)

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h> (one pair)

1) Trading with P1:

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 6<h> 6<d>

ME: 10<d> 9<d> 7<h> 4<h> 2<h>

Trading: His 6<h> for my 9<d>

P1 result: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 9<d> 6<d> (full house to four of a kind)

ME: 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h> 2<h>

2) Trading with P2:

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> Q<h> Q<d>

ME: 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h> 2<h>

Trading: His Q<h> for my 2<h>

P2 result: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> 2<h> Q<d> (full house to four of a kind)

ME: Q<h> 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

3) Trading with P4:

P4: 3<h> 3<c> J<d> K<d> A<h>

ME: Q<h> 10<d> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

Trading: His 3<h> and 3<c> for my Q<h> and 10<d>

P4 result: 10<d> J<d> Q<h> K<d> A<h> (one pair to straight)

ME: 3<h> 3<c> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

4) Trading with P3:

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 5<h>

ME: 3<h> 3<c> 7<h> 6<h> 4<h>

Trade: His 5<h> for my 3<c>

P3 result: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 3<c> (two pair to full house)

ME: 3<h> 4<h> 5<h> 6<h> 7<h>

And here I stop. Let's look at the hands.

P1: 9<s> 9<h> 9<c> 9<d> 6<d> (four of a kind)

P2: 2<s> 2<d> 2<c> 2<h> Q<d> (four of a kind)

P3: J<h> J<s> 3<d> 3<s> 3<c> (full house)

P4: 10<d> J<d> Q<h> K<d> A<h> (straight)

And I have: 3<h> 4<h> 5<h> 6<h> 7<h> (straight flush). Once again, this trumps all the other hands.

OMG. o.o I can see that Moho...

At this rate, I'll run out of questions lol~ :V

Perhaps the above is too easy.

I'll give one which is a little harder then :V

Just as you breathe a sigh of relief to have solved the previous problem, you find that the next set of hands that was dealt to you IS STILL UNRANKED!

You curse under your breath for your short of luck as you look at the cards of your opponents.

P1: 4<s> 4<h> 4<c> 3<d> 3<c>

P2: Q<d> J<d> 10<d> 7<d> 6<d>

P3: Q<h> Q<c> 10<c> 4<d> 5<d>

P4: 6<s> 6<c> 7<c> 8<c> J<c>

YOU: J<s> 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 6<h>

------------

*Btw, best rank doesn't equal to best hand.

(E.g If there are two players in the same rank, then the determining of best hand is to see who has the highest card. For fullhouse or 3-of-the-same-kind, the high card is determined from the "set of 3" in the hand. For pairs, determined by the "set of 2"... etc. Works the same for 4-of-a-kind.)

^However, this has nothing to do with whether the player wants to change their cards with you. They will only change if it improves their rank, not their hand.

A tie should not be considered as a best hand.

There. I'm sure this one is gonna be harder. Can you solve this? :V

[tengaku squared 291]

OMG. o.o I can see that Moho...

At this rate, I'll run out of questions lol~ :V

Perhaps the above is too easy.

I'll give one which is a little harder then :V

Just as you breathe a sigh of relief to have solved the previous problem, you find that the next set of hands that was dealt to you IS STILL UNRANKED!

You curse under your breath for your short of luck as you look at the cards of your opponents.

P1: 4<s> 4<h> 4<c> 3<d> 3<c>

P2: Q<d> J<d> 10<d> 7<d> 6<d>

P3: Q<h> Q<c> 10<c> 4<d> 5<d>

P4: 6<s> 6<c> 7<c> 8<c> J<c>

YOU: J<s> 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 6<h>

------------

*Btw, best rank doesn't equal to best hand.

(E.g If there are two players in the same rank, then the determining of best hand is to see who has the highest card. For fullhouse or 3-of-the-same-kind, the high card is determined from the "set of 3" in the hand. For pairs, determined by the "set of 2"... etc. Works the same for 4-of-a-kind.)

^However, this has nothing to do with whether the player wants to change their cards with you. They will only change if it improves their rank, not their hand.

A tie should not be considered as a best hand.

There. I'm sure this one is gonna be harder. Can you solve this? :V

This one's actually easier.

1) TRADE WITH P4

P4: 6<s> 6<c> 7<c> 8<c> J<c>

ME: J<s> 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 6<h>

TRADE: His 7<c> for my J<s>

P4 result: 6<s> 6<c> J<s> J<c> 8<c> (one pair to two pair)

ME: 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 7<c> 6<h>

2) TRADE WITH P2

P2: Q<d> J<d> 10 <d> 7<d> 6<d>

ME: 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 7<c> 6<h>

TRADE: His Q<d> J<d> 6<d> for my 10<h> 7<h> 7<c>

P2 result: 10<h> 10<d> 7<d> 7<h> 7<c> (flush to full house)

ME: Q<d> J<d> 9<c> 6<d> 6<h>

3) TRADE WITH P4 (again)

P4: 6<s> 6<c> J<s> J<c> 8<c>

ME: Q<d> J<d> 9<c> 6<d> 6<h>

TRADE: His 6<s> 6<c> 8<c> for my Q<d> J<d> 9<c>

P4: Q<d> J<d> J<s> J<c> 9<c> (two pair to three of a kind)

ME: 6<s> 6<c> 6<d> 6<h> 8<c>

Again, here I stop. Here are the current hands:

P1: 4<s> 4<h> 4<c> 3<d> 3<c> (full house)

P2: 10<h> 10<d> 7<d> 7<h> 7<c> (full house)

P3: Q<h> Q<c> 10<c> 4<d> 5<d> (one pair)

P4: Q<d> J<d> J<s> J<c> 9<c> (three of a kind)

And I have 6<s> 6<c> 6<d> 6<h> 8<c>. That is a four of a kind, which trumps every other hand.

[Kaitou Kid Legendary Thief 197]

This one's actually easier.

1) TRADE WITH P4

P4: 6<s> 6<c> 7<c> 8<c> J<c>

ME: J<s> 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 6<h>

TRADE: His 7<c> for my J<s>

P4 result: 6<s> 6<c> J<s> J<c> 8<c> (one pair to two pair)

ME: 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 7<c> 6<h>

2) TRADE WITH P2

P2: Q<d> J<d> 10 <d> 7<d> 6<d>

ME: 10<h> 9<c> 7<h> 7<c> 6<h>

TRADE: His Q<d> J<d> 6<d> for my 10<h> 7<h> 7<c>

P2 result: 10<h> 10<d> 7<d> 7<h> 7<c> (flush to full house)

ME: Q<d> J<d> 9<c> 6<d> 6<h>

3) TRADE WITH P4 (again)

P4: 6<s> 6<c> J<s> J<c> 8<c>

ME: Q<d> J<d> 9<c> 6<d> 6<h>

TRADE: His 6<s> 6<c> 8<c> for my Q<d> J<d> 9<c>

P4: Q<d> J<d> J<s> J<c> 9<c> (two pair to three of a kind)

ME: 6<s> 6<c> 6<d> 6<h> 8<c>

Again, here I stop. Here are the current hands:

P1: 4<s> 4<h> 4<c> 3<d> 3<c> (full house)

P2: 10<h> 10<d> 7<d> 7<h> 7<c> (full house)

P3: Q<h> Q<c> 10<c> 4<d> 5<d> (one pair)

P4: Q<d> J<d> J<s> J<c> 9<c> (three of a kind)

And I have 6<s> 6<c> 6<d> 6<h> 8<c>. That is a four of a kind, which trumps every other hand.

It's easier? Really? -__-

I found it more difficult than the previous one though. >__<

(The previous one is more obvious with the end result IMO.)

Your lucky, yet unlucky streak has not ended yet, revealed as you look at your next set of cards.

You start to wonder if your

However, you're getting the hang of it already, and you're starting to see the light.

"This is easy..." you said, as you start to exchange the cards.

P1: K<s> K<h> K<d> 9<h> 9<d>

P2: 7<s> 7<h> 7<c> Q<s> 3<s>

P3: K<c> J<s> 10<s> 9<c> 9<s>

P4: 3<d> 3<h> A<h> 2<h> 4<d>

YOU: A<s> Q<h> J<h> 10<h> 5<h>

Want a challenge?

Medium Difficulty:

P1: 9<h> 9<c> 9<d> 5<h> 5<d>

P2: 2<s> 2<h> 2<d> J<h> J<d>

P3: 10<s> 10<c> 10<d> A<d> 4<h>

P4: 8<s> 8<c> 8<d> k<h> Q<h>

P5: 7<s> 7<h> 7<d> 5<s> 9<s>

P6: k<s> k<d> 3<s> 3<d> 4<d>

P7: 4<c> 6<d> 6<h> 6<c> Q<c>

P8: A<h> A<s> Q<d> 10<h> 7<c>

P9: 3<h> 3<c> A<c> 6<s> 4<s>

YOU: K<c> Q<s> J<s> 8<h> 2<c>

Difficult

(Same as above. Only with limited players.)

P4/p1: 8<s> 8<c> 8<d> k<h> Q<h>

P5/p2: 7<s> 7<h> 7<d> 5<s> 9<s>

P6/p3: k<s> k<d> 3<s> 3<d> 4<d>

P8/p4: A<h> A<s> Q<d> 10<h> 7<c>

YOU: K<c> Q<s> J<s> 8<h> 2<c>