Why is AK better than pocket deuces in a regular Holdem game?
Pocket deuces is the better hand preflop but the goal of holdem as well as any other poker game is NOT to have the better starting hand but to have the better finishing hand. It turns out that AK will only beat the pocket deuces 47% of the time making it a slight underdog. However, ironically even the third worst hand in holdem 83o will beat the pocket deuces 45% of the time, making it almost as good as AK when played heads up. The problem with the deuces is that you run into tough obstacles when trying to play it well after the flop, even when heads up. Since every card is an overcard, the only good flop for you if you are putting your opponent on overcards (other than a set) is trips on board. Even if your opponent is stealing with utter garbage, he still has two overcards and thus a good chance of beating you. Therefore, if you don’t hit the deuce, you will NEVER have a strong “playable hand”; your hand will be marginal on the flop and go down in value with every overcard that hits
