POKER

Seven-deuce is the worst starting hand in Texas hold’em poker, but that doesn’t mean it can’t win. In fact, the hand was worth more than $21,000 to nine players in a recent tournament. The situation unfolded in the European Poker Tour’s $10,300 NoLimit Hold’em 6-Max Turbo High Roller, an online tournament that attracted 69 entries and offered up a $690,000 prize pool. Just 10 players remained, but with only nine slated to be paid, the money bubble was about to burst for someone. Just one more player needed to leave empty-handed before the remaining players locked up a minimum payday, which in this case was $21,512.

With blinds at 15,00030,000 plus an ante of 3,750, Michael Addamo raised the button to 50,000 holding 7♠ 2♠. Why would he raise with the worst hand in poker? It was simply because of the tournament dynamics — namely that the event had reached the money bubble, and the two players in the blinds were short-stacked. As a result, they would likely fold to a raise unless they woke up with a quality hand.

Jon Van Fleet called from the big blind, which suggested that he had a mediocre hand. If he had a good hand, chances are he would have just jammed all in. Whatever the case, one thing was certain: Had a better starting hand than Addamo. In this instance, Van Fleet held J♠ 9♥.

The flop came 4♥ 10♣ 7♣. Van Fleet checked his gutshot straight draw. Addamo, who had f lopped middle pair, did the same.

The J♦ on the turn gave Van Fleet the lead with a pair of jacks, and he bet 87,500. Addamo opted to call and was glad he did when the 2♦ river delivered him two pair.

Van Fleet was first to act and bet 175,000 into a pot of 307,000. Addamo, who had the bigger stack, moved all in, and Van Fleet was put to the test. He wound up calling off his remaining stack and finished as the bubble boy in 10th place.

In cash games, some players like to play the “sevendeuce game.” It works like this: All players agree to offer a reward to anyone who wins a hand holding seven-deuce.

For instance, a player may receive an additional $25 from each player if they win with seven-deuce. This is meant to encourage action by enticing players to mix it up with the worst hand in poker. For the other players, it becomes a challenge to determine whether opponents hold seven-deuce or a legitimate hand.

Holloway is a 2013 World Series of Poker bracelet winner.