Taking seven deuce to the bank

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2011 (5190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Have you ever beaten A A with 7 2 without even having a pair? It isn’t something I recommend trying, but in the right situation you might just be able to pull it off.

Moving from online to live poker can be very tough to do. The speed of the game, the number of hands dealt per hour and playing only one table at a time can be as boring as watching paint dry.

Many players will often play props, that is, gambling on the cards or suits that flop in order to keep themselves entertained. Often, the entire table will play them and one of the more common games played is Seven Deuce.

In this game, any player who wins a hand and shows 7 2 wins a predetermined amount from every player at the table. This is a great way to increase action in any game as players begin to play 7 2 as if they were A A.

The other day I joined a game with some friends. I had just been dealt in, was in the big blind and looked down at 7 2. I wasn’t sure if we were playing Seven Deuce or not, so when a buddy of mine folded from the small blind, I bumped his arm and showed him my cards. He nodded at me letting me know we were on for it, so I called another friend’s raise from under the gun.

Now, the player who raised under the gun is a very good and dangerous player capable of well-timed bluffs, while at the same time showing up with absolute monsters, making him very difficult to play against. With four callers behind me I decided to call, seeing if I could win the hand with my garbage, as I stood to win $25 from each player at the table for a total of $225.

The flop was J 10 6 rainbow. It was checked around to the button, who bet $40. I raised it to $110, and this is where it got interesting. My buddy who raised pre-flop asked how much I was playing and then called the $110. The button folded. The turn was a K and having played a bunch with my buddy I thought he could have a big hand like A A but also knew he wasn’t folding to a bet either. I checked. Thankfully for me he checked also. The river was a 9 for a final board of J106 K 9. This was a great card for me to bluff at so I did and bet $225. Putting me on the straight, he mucked his A A face up. To add insult to injury, I showed my hand and collected $25 from each player at the table.

There were many river cards that would never allow me to win that pot, but I was very fortunate in having a 9 fall off. The next time you are in a game and are playing 7 2, proceed with caution. Think about board texture and if what you are representing makes sense. If not you might just put a severe dent in your bankroll.