The 7-2 Game in Poker: Rules for the Seven-Deuce Bounty
Updated Oct 27, 2026
The 7-2 game is a home poker side bet: if you win a pot holding seven-deuce, every other player at the table pays you a bounty. It turns the worst starting hand in Hold'em into the best story of the night. Agree four things before the first hand: the bounty, suited or not, showing, and who pays.
The rules to agree before you play
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| Rule | Common choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bounty amount | 2 to 4 big blinds (e.g., $1–$2 at $0.25/$0.50) | Too big and the game turns into a lottery |
| Who pays | Everyone dealt into the hand | Some tables charge only players who saw the flop |
| Suited 7-2 | Doesn't count | Offsuit is the "true" worst hand |
| Must show | Yes, both cards | No show, no bounty |
| Win by everyone folding | Counts, if shown | The bluff is the point of the game |
| Split pot | No bounty | A chop isn't a win |
Worked example
A 7-player $0.25/$0.50 game plays a $2 bounty. Dana raises with 7♦2♣, everyone folds by the turn, and she shows. On top of the pot, the other 6 players each pass her $2 in chips: +$12 for Dana, −$2 for everyone else, which adds to $0.
How to settle 7-2 bounties without extra math
Pay the bounty in chips, right away, at the table. The end-of-night chip count then already includes every bounty, so you settle exactly as usual: final chips minus buy-ins, then who owes whom. Don't keep a separate bounty list for later. It's the one that gets forgotten.
Does it change how people play?
Yes, and that's the fun of it. Players raise 7-2 more often hoping to steal a bounty, so a big raise from a regular means a little less than usual. Post the rule where everyone can see it, alongside the other home game rules people argue about.
Why our logo is a 7-2
Every home game has the night someone won with seven-deuce and never let anyone forget it. That's the game we build for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 72 rule in poker? It's the 7-2 game, a side bet. A player who wins a pot holding 7-2 collects a bounty from every other player at the table. The amount and the details are agreed before the game.
Does a suited 7-2 count? Only if your table says so. Many games pay the bounty for 7-2 offsuit only, because suited 7-2 can make a flush. Decide before the first hand.
Do you have to show 7-2 to collect the bounty? Yes, in almost every game. The winner shows both cards; if they muck, there's no bounty.
Is 7-2 the worst hand in poker? 7-2 offsuit is widely called the worst starting hand in Texas Hold'em. The cards are too far apart to make a straight together, they can't make a flush, and the high card is only a 7.
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