Full Tilt Poker Team > Howard Lederer

A Simple Deuce to Seven Hand

by Howard Lederer
An analysis of a deuce to seven hand that illustrates several tricky situations.

I played this hand recently in the 1500-3000 game at Bellagio and think you might find it interesting.

I played a 2-7 hand recently. I think it shows some of the tricky situations that can come up in this game.

500-1000 limit six handed. 300,500 blinds, fold, fold to me. I have 2-3-3-5-Q and open for 1000. The button makes it 1500 and the small blind calls. I call. Small blind draws 2 and I draw 2, button stands pat. The button is a loose, aggressive, and creative player. He is also losing in the game. This means he could have a lot of different hands; anything from a pat 7 to a complete snow.

SB checks, I check blind and the button bets. SB calls and I hit a 7-K and call. I am now drawing at, 2-3-5-7. SB draws 1, I draw 1 and button stands pat. Check, check, button bets. Call, and I hit a 9 and call. SB draws 1 and I break the 9 and draw, button stands. Check from the SB and I hit a pair of 3's and check. The button bets and the SB folds. I call. He shows me a 5-6-7-8-J and wins the pot.

To some, it might appear that I played this hand poorly. I actually only have doubts about one of my decisions. Try and think about what I could have done differently, and why I played the hand like I did.

After I hit the 7, I have two draws at a wheel, and I'm in three way pot. If I had check raised after the first draw I might have gotten the button to fold. He would have been in a very tough spot with the hand he had.

After I called and hit the 9, I have no regret about breaking it. For me to win the pot after standing on the 9, a number of things would have to fall perfect. First, the button would have to not have me beat. Though this was quite possible, he is much more likely than not to have an 8 or better. Then, the SB would have to miss. And, finally, the button would then have to miss after drawing to beat my hand. If I call and stand pat, I am practically turning my hand over, so he will draw to beat me if I am not already beaten. I felt that this parlay was much less likely than just hitting a 4,6 or 8. The 8 might not win but the 4 or 6 should win. I can also hit a 9 which will give me the same hand back.

A very important point when considering whether to break the 9 is that a good percentage of the time my 9 is good, he is on a complete snow. This means I can hit almost anything and win when I call his bluff on the end.

Now let's look at the call on the river. A fold would have been a terrible play. I am getting 10.5-1 that he is snowing. Against this player, I would have been willing to take 5 or 6 to 1. I don't think a raise on the river was an option, as this would be a very suspicious play. If I had made my hand, I certainly would bet out, as the button is quite likely to show down his pat hand.

An interesting question is whether the button's bet on the river is good or not. There is no chance he will bluff the pot with the worst hand here. But, there is a good chance he might get paid off. So, he is risking a bet against an 8,9,10 or better J, while he gets paid off by a Q, K, A or baby pair. For a simple hand, there were many close decisions. I always come away from a 2-7 triple draw session with a lot of food for thought.

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