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The Worst Hand in Poker
(July 19, 2006)
What is the worst hand in all of poker? That question comes up on poker forums everywhere, and a lot of people don’t know the true answer. Some say the 2-7 or the 2-8 offsuit is the worst hand in poker, and while it is true that both of these hands are awful, neither will cost you the most amount of cash, and therefore not as bad as others. The worst hand in poker is the one that causes you to lose the largest amount of your bankroll, which is nearly always the second best hand at the table. Often the hand which appears very strong will end up costing you the most. Learning how to identify a hand which is strong, but not quite strong enough, will save you a lot of money and a considerable amount of heartache and disappointment.
Recall the amount of times that you have a played a strong hand all the way through, been ready to collect that juicy pot only to discover that an opponent has put together an even better hand than yours. It happens to every player, regardless of their ability. If it happens from time to time, don’t sweat it. However, if it happens time and time again, then you are probably missing out on something here. As an experienced poker player, you must always be able to identify what will beat you and then read your opponents’ actions to determine if anyone in fact has these cards.
Often you see professional poker players dump what looks to be a great hand. By watching the behaviour of their opponent and the cards on the table, they are able to draw the reasonable conclusion that their hand is not good enough to win the pot. Sometimes they fall victim to a well-executed bluff, but more often than not the seasoned poker player knows when he is beat and will get out before he loses any more of his bankroll.
It is important here to draw the distinction between the worst hand and the worst starting hand. A starting hand can easily be folded and therefore not costly. The second-best hand at the table however, almost always costs a player a substantial amount of stake.
One of poker’s most valuable lessons is learning how to identify these second-best hands early, and then folding before you have the chance to squander a sizable chunk of your bankroll. Some common ones which end up costing a lot of money are hands with a high card and a small kicker, like A-10 or K-9. With these hands, you will often end up with merely a pair or, at best, the losing end of a straight.
Commonly in poker, a strong hand has turned weak by the time the turn and the river have come out. By considering the cards on the table and the betting patterns of your opponents, you should be able to get an idea if your hand has a chance of holding up.
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