In the context of poker, a case card signifies the last card of a specific rank that is still available in the deck. This suggests that the other three cards of that same rank have either been dealt or shown during the hand.
To illustrate, consider a situation where we hold an Ace on a flop of AAx in Texas Hold'em. This leaves only one ace in the deck that can provide us with four of a kind, which is termed as the case Ace .
In this tutorial, we will cover several important topics -
Understanding the Concept of Drawing to a Case Card in Poker
When we're drawing to a case card, it means there is only one remaining card that can fulfill our desired hand. Pursuing case cards tends to be unfavorable because chances are high that we won't actually hit it most of the time.
A typical scenario involves having a weaker three of a kind and needing to draw the last existing card of a specific rank to achieve four of a kind and secure the pot.
Are We Always Aware if We Are Pursuing the Case Card?
There may be moments when we believe we have two possible outs to enhance our hand (like holding two aces and trying to hit a third ace), but it turns out another player has already folded one of those aces earlier in the game.
Technically, we are drawing to the case ace, yet we have no confirmation that there are still two aces left in play. In televised matches, commentators may be aware of earlier folds and can discern that a player is drawing to the case ace, while the player themselves remains oblivious.
Understanding What It Means to 'Catch the Case Ace' in Poker
'Catching the case Ace' refers to successfully drawing that final ace that is available in the deck. For instance, if we possess three aces in Hold'em but are losing to a full house, hitting that last ace to make quads is what we call 'catching the case ace.'
How Likely is it to Catch a Case Card?
The likelihood of catching a case card in Hold'em is quite low. From flop to turn, the probability is about 2.1%. From turn to river, it's roughly 2.2%, and overall from flop to river, it stands at 4.3%. Essentially, it's advisable not to rely on it happening, as the odds aren't in your favor.
Summary
Chasing case cards is generally a disadvantageous strategy since the odds of hitting them are very slim. It’s crucial for poker players to recognize which situations warrant drawing and which do not. Pursuing improbable outcomes can lead to significant chip losses.