Watching WSOP and can't figure out how they calculate which hand will win...?

Question

i was watching and two guys went all in. one guy had 55 and the other had AK. on the screen they calculated that the 55 had a 59% chance to win before the flop while the AK had a 41% chance to win. i know the % changes on the turn and river but how did they figure out the 59 and 41% preflop?

Answer 1

It's simple.  They simply put every possible outcome (flop turn and river) into a computer and count how many each hand would win.

You can use a program such as Pokerstove to do it yourself.

http://www.pokerstove.com/

Answer 2

you have to consider how many ways there are for the 5s to win and how many ways there are for AK to win. The cards held by others who have folded (if applicable) also must be considered as well as the suits of the 5s, A and K. the A and K an win if either an A, a K or both is drawn or if there is 10, J, Q or 2, 3, 4, 5. There is also the possibility of a flush with the suit of either of these cards. But if there is an A or K drawn, the probability of another also being drawn must also be considered and the probability of a straight or flush containing a 5 must be considered. There must also be considered the probability of anything that will cause none of these hands to win (ex. royal flush, straight, flush containing the suits of none of the players' cards).