Beer Hand - Worst Hand in Hold'em!

A 'beer hand' in poker is another reference to the impressive starting hand 2-7 off. This is the worst starting hand in Texas Hold'em. It's also the reason you'll see players make plays with it and then show. And who said all poker players had egos?

It's not just considered the worst hand - it is statistically the worst. You might be thinking, why isn't A-6 or A-5 considered a worst hand? The reason is the ability to catch cards to make a straight. With A-6 there are more possibilities - in addition to hitting an A or 6, you could get 2-3-4-5 to make a straight. With 7-2 off - the possibility of the straight is removed. In addition, the cards being off suit means that a flush is not probably. If you did get four other cards of the same suit on the board, it's more likely it's not a winner in any case.

When we get to the flop, where the 7 hits, you've the worst kicker. Where the 2 hits, you have the lowest possible pair (so can't be overly confident about your hand). All in all and taking all these factors into account - it's not a great hand. On the flip side, there are times where it shouldn't necessarily be an instant fold. Remember - it's what your opponent thinks you have that counts, so provided you don't make showdown, it's as good as any other hand. It also holds up more than some people might think.

The reference to 'beer' goes a long way to explaining why a player might get involved with it. Playing games like heads up, it's less of a dog as you might think. Up against one player who has AK, 2-7 off will win 32% of the time. Even against AA, it's winning just shy of 12% of the time. Obviously the more players in the hand, the less likely it is that 2-7 is going to hold up. Of course the challenge to win with the hand will likely always be there for players.

Next Definition : Belly Buster