The worst hand in poker.
7-2 off suit (e.g. a 7 of clubs and a 2 of hearts) as your pocket cards (i.e. pre-flop – the cards you are dealt) is considered the worst hand in poker. Apart from being Pete’s favourite hand, let’s take a closer look at why this is considered the worst hand.
These are first of all the lowest two cards you can be dealt that cannot make a straight (because there are five cards between 2 and 7). This obviously doesn’t mean you can’t make a straight with one of your hole cards but because that means you are relying on more cards on the board (i.e. four other cards to make a straight instead of three), your odds of having a winning hand pre-flop are a lot less.
If the 7-2 were suited you’d make a low flush but you don’t even have that and with 7-2 off rather than suited cards, the same logic goes as for the straight, you need four cards from the board instead of three to make that hand.
If either card makes a pair, it is still a low hand and obviously a 7 is a pretty poor high card.
So there you go, that is why 7-2 off is the worst hand in poker.
That being said, any two cards can win, so limping in with 7-2 off (perhaps from a chip lead or a good position) or checking into a hand with this hand if playing big blind can sometimes make it a surprise winning hand.
It all depends on how you play ’em.