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Bill Chen

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William Chen
Nickname(s) None
Hometown Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s) 2
Money finishes 9

William (Bill) Chen is a quantitative analyst, poker player and software designer with a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.

At the 2006 World Series of Poker Chen won two events, a $3000 limit hold 'em event with a prize of $343,618, and a $2500 no limit hold 'em short-handed event with a prize of $442,511. Prior to these events Chen's previous largest tournament win was for $41,600 at a no limit hold 'em event at the Bicycle Casino's Legends of Poker in 2000.

Chen has been a longtime participant in the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup and its B.A.R.G.E offshoot. He is also a member of Team PokerStars.

With Jerrod Ankenman, Chen coauthored the The Mathematics of Poker, an introduction to quantitative techniques and game theory as applied to poker, set to be published at the end of July 2006.

As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $935,000.

The Chen Formula

Prior to his breakout 2006 performance, a then unknown Bill Chen authored the Chen Formula which was published in Lou Kreigers 2000 book "Hold 'Em Excellence". The formula ranks starting hands by assigning them a numerical value. It is as follows.

  • Determine your highest card and score as follows: (only use your lower card for gap and suited analysis)
   * Ace = 10 points
   * King = 8 points
   * Queen = 7 points
   * Jack = 6 points
   * 10 through 2 = half of face value (i.e. 10 = 5, 9 = 4.5)
   * Pairs, multiply score by 2 (i.e. KK = 16), minimum score for a pair is 5 (so pairs of 2 through 4 get a 5 score)
   * Suited cards, add two points to highest card score
   * Connectors add 1 point (i.e. KQ)
   * One gap, subtract 1 point (i.e. T8)
   * Two gap, subtract 2 points (i.e. AJ)
   * Three gap, subtract 4 points (i.e. J7)
   * Four or more gap, subtract 5 points (i.e. A4) 
   Sample scores AA = 20 points 98s = 7.5 points K9s = 6 points

Bibliography

  • William Chen and Jerrod Ankenman (2006). The Mathematics of Poker. Conjelco. ISBN 1-886070-25-3.

Notes

  1. Legends of Poker report
  2. The Chen Coin Flip
  3. Team PokerStars profile

External links

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