Many poker fans know that the 10-2 is known as the “Doyle Brunson”, and some will also be aware that it’s the hand Brunson twice won the World Series of Poker with – but do you know the exact details of how those mediocre starting cards made him a two-time champion? (He’s now a ten-time champion…)

The first time, in 1976, Jesse Alto made a sizeable pre-flop raise with As-Jh and Brunson made a loose call with 10s-2s. The flop hit Doyle a little bit, but it hit Alto big. It came Ah-Js-10h, Alto bet with top two pair, and Brunson called. The turn brought the 2c, making Brunson two pair, and he moved all in. Naturally, Alto called. Doyle was in terrible shape – he had only a nine percent chance of winning the pot. But as they say, it’s better to be lucky than good, and the 10d on the river made Brunson a full house.

The next year, Brunson was heads up with Bones Berland, and neither had great pocket cards. Berland held 8s-5h, while Brunson had 10s-2h. And just like against Alto, the flop hit Doyle, but it hit Berland better. It came 10d-8s-5h, and both players checked. Berland was trying to trap, but he himself fell in on the turn, when the 2c (the exact same card that came on the turn the previous year) made Texas Dolly a superior two pair. Brunson bet, Berland moved all-in, and Doyle called. He didn’t need any help at this point – he had Berland dead to an eight or a five – but he got help anyway, the 10c on the river making him a full house once again.

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