Poker Betting: The Five Worst Texas Hold 'Em Hands

by Bodog Poker Staff | Jan 24 2012

Dolly Parton once sang a song that highlighted the importance of knowing when to hold and when to fold. As it turns out, that's pretty sound advice for poker players.

Anyone who's dabbled in poker betting knows that it's a game of patience. Often times we'll flip on ESPN and see a televised poker tournament where each hand comes down to climatic draws. The reality is that hours and hours of real-time poker are actually edited so that the viewers only see the biggest hands. What you don't see are the sharpest players in the world waiting patiently for the right cards to come along. As they say, patience is a virtue and Texas Hold 'Em Poker truly highlights that talent.

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When it comes to betting a hand in Texas Hold 'Em, the first thing you should evaluate is the two cards you've been dealt. Depending on what's in front of you, your decisions should change drastically.

But there's one guy at every table that loves to "play aggressive" and bet each and every hand. Don't be that guy. While he's likely to win a pot or two thanks to bluffing, the reality is that investing into every pot regardless of your hand is a losing strategy.

So we've compiled a brief list of the five worst possible hands you can start with based on the mathematical probabilities. If you see these cards, fold and wait until you're dealt something better:

1. 2-7

Sometimes referred to as "The Hammer", this is the flat-out worst cards you can start with. With four cards in between them, you can't make a straight and even if they are suited, you'll have a very low flush if it does come through. Even if you match them up for pairs, they are still fairly low in the deck.

It's automatic: if you see these two cards, fold.

2. 2-8

For many of the same reasons mentioned above, 2-8 is simply not worth playing. Keep in mind that 2-7 is actually the lowest possible set of cards you can have that won't make you a straight; 2-8 is just one card up and for all intents and purposes, should be folded just as frequently.

3. 3-8 & 3-7

These two are tied with according to the probabilities but in both cases, you really don't want to be playing either. The three gives you a slight edge on the first two hands in this list, but all we're really saying here is that anything beats 2-7 or 2-8.

4. 2-6

2-6 slightly improves your odds of winning, but we're only in the 10% range here if you're playing against four other people.

The difference with 2-6 is that you can potentially flop 3-4-5 and hit a straight, but you're still praying for a miracle for that kind of a draw and realistically, someone could have a 6-7 and beat your straight.

5. 2-9, 3-9 & 4-9

The nine gives you a decent opportunity to pair-off a middle-range set, but even so, you're grasping for straws. While the winning percentages are slightly better with this hand, it tends to cost bettors many more chips than the aforementioned four hands.

The nine entices people to get into action when they shouldn't be playing, and that's where it ends up costing them blinds – at the very least. Keep in mind that a 10 or any royalty is superior, so don't waste your time with these combos.

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