What is the worst hand in poker?
Seven two offsuit is widely considered the worst starting hand in Texas holdem, because its two cards cannot make a straight together, it rarely makes a flush, and its pairs are almost always second best.
Seven Two Offsuit
TrashFold it as a first-in open from every seat. The two cards are too far apart to make a straight, they are different suits so a flush needs running cards, and a pair of sevens or deuces is beaten by most hands that continue. The only time it gets played is from the big blind for free when nobody raises, and even then it is checking and giving up most of the time.
This hand is a fold as a first-in open from every seat in the GTO solver's 6-max ranges.
Common mistake: Getting attached to it because it has a reputation. The "72 challenge" is a fun bar bet, not a strategy. In a real cash game it is a fold.
Quick tip: The lowest two cards that cannot make a straight together. There is a reason it is the punch line.
All-in equity before the flop
How Seven Two Offsuit runs against a few benchmark hands if all the money goes in preflop. Figures from the Poker Shark equity engine.
Seven Two Offsuit on real flops
Precomputed equity vs a random hand once the flop is out. Each link jumps straight to the 72o row.
- 72o on 2 4 7 rainbow : the famous low board that misses everything
- 72o on 7 7 2 : a paired low board
- 72o on T 5 2 rainbow : dry, low, and unconnected
Know the hand? Now play it for real.
Practice these spots against opponents who punish the wrong move.
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