Quick answer
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72o by the numbers
- vs 1 random hand
- 34.5%
- all-in equity
- vs 5 random hands
- 8.5%
- full 6-max table
- Flop a pair or better
- 32.4%
- pairing a hole card
- How often dealt
- 0.90%
- 1 in 110.5
How to play 72o by position
6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.
- Early position (UTG)
- Fold. Opening it from early position only invites calls and 3-bets from much better hands.
- Middle position (hijack)
- Fold. There is no profitable way to open it with several players still to act.
- Late position (cutoff, button)
- Fold. Even a blind steal works better with hands that can make straights, flushes or strong pairs.
- Blinds
- Fold from the small blind. In the big blind, check when no one has raised and fold to any raise.
- Facing a raise
- Fold every time, whether facing an open raise or a 3-bet. It is behind almost every hand that raises and has few ways to catch up.
After the flop
- If you see a free flop in the big blind, play cautiously: a pair of sevens or deuces is rarely the best hand.
- Two pair, trips or better can win a pot, but even then watch out for straights and flushes on the board.
- Don’t bluff just because your hand is weak. Bluff when the board and your opponent’s range make the story believable.
72o against common hands
Seven-two offsuit wins 12.4% against AA and 32.2% against KQo. Against 32o it wins 55.9%, with ties 18.2% of the time.
| Against | 72o wins | Tie | 72o loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-A | 12.4% | 0.4% | 87.2% |
| K-Q offsuit | 32.2% | 0.7% | 67.1% |
| 3-2 offsuit | 55.9% | 18.2% | 25.9% |
All-in before the flop, exact results from every possible board. Suits as dealt in our example; figures shift slightly with other suit combinations.
What 72o makes by the river
If you see all five board cards, your best five-card hand ends up as each of these this often. Exact figures from every possible board.
- Straight flush0.02%
- Four of a kind0.1%
- Full house2.2%
- Flush2.0%
- Straight2.7%
- Three of a kind4.5%
- Two pair22.8%
- One pair46.0%
- High card19.8%
Common mistakes with 72o
- Playing it for fun because of its nickname and losing chips with a hand that rarely wins.
- Calling a raise from the small blind because ‘any two cards can win’.
- Building a pot with one pair after a free flop in the big blind.
Where 72o sits in the chart
Suited hands above the diagonal, offsuit below, pairs on it. Number = equity against one random hand. A white dot means the hand has a full guide.
Seven-deuce offsuit FAQ
Why is 72o the worst hand?
Hands like 6-2 or 3-2 can at least make a straight using both cards; seven-two can’t, and offsuit it has no flush potential either. Even when it pairs, the kicker is usually weak.
Why is 72o called the hammer?
It is a long-standing nickname for the hand. Some players enjoy bluffing with it for fun, but the name doesn’t make it any stronger.
How do I play 72o with a short stack in a tournament?
Fold it from every seat. The rare exception is a very short stack in the big blind facing a small shove, where the price can be good enough to call with almost anything.