The Genuine Article

Your first task, dear initiate, is to learn the fundamentals of 72 off suit.  To be a true adept at the art of playing this most misunderstood of hands you need courage, faith, resilience and determination.  I believe you have these skills.

One of the major mistakes a new initiate makes is playing this hand:

  <<<<<YOU MUST NEVER PLAY THIS HAND.  (See the "Imposter" section for details)

The genuine article is identified by the Seven and Two (Deuce) being of different suits.  This is a vitally important concept that you must commit to memory immediately.

Those who consider themselves to be "Tight Aggressive" 72o players will even fold due to the fact that there is no color clash.  In my opinion this is an advanced strategy that should only be considered by level three initiates and above and although I believe it may be beneficial in loose games, we shouldn't just restrict ourselves to one red and one black card.

So, to summarise your very first lesson:

1)  The best damn hand in poker is a Seven coupled with a Deuce.

2)  Both cards MUST be of different suits.

3)  Advanced players gain a small positive expectation edge by folding a seven and deuce of the same color.

NEXT:  The Imposter

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