[Math] Probability of Poker Hands with Joker

combinatoricsdiscrete mathematicspokerprobability

Need help with a homework question:

If a five card hand from a standard deck of 52 with an added joker (wildcard) is drawn:

  • What is the probability that a hand contains at least one pair?
  • What is the probability that a hand does not contain at least two cards of the same value?
  • What is the probability that a hand contains x number of cards of the same suit?
  • What is the probability that a hand contains a full house? (Three cards of one value, and one pair)
  • What is the probability that a hand contains a five-of-a-kind? (four of anything and a joker)

I understand how to answer these for a standard deck, however am getting very confused by the addition of a wildcard. I assume the answer to the second question would be the answer to the first question subtracted from 1.

Thanks for any help!

Best Answer

Try breaking the problem into the case where you get the joker, and the case where you don't (this is then identical to the "joker free" problem that you already understand).

For example, if you've drawn the joker, you have a 100% chance of having at least one pair.