Many gamers may know the 1X2 (or 1-2) hand in betting. It’s a hand in which you place your standard bet (1 unit of currency or coin per 2 units of currency or coin) but, because you only have 1 hand, you must use your opponent’s turn as a free hit (no matter how the hand lands, you must bet as though it were a standard hand). The 1X2 hand is extremely popular with gamers who enjoy betting but don’t want to ruin their chance at a fair and equal game; it’s also quite popular with those who enjoy a bit of variety in their card games!
The name ‘1X2′ may come from the fact that this style of betting can sometimes feel like you’re facing two hands (hence the 1 symbol) rather than just one. While there are many different ways to play with the 1X2 hands, most regions of the world tend to use the English rules, as this is the most popular set of rules globally. These rules are pretty easy to understand even if you’ve never played poker before, and they also make for some fantastic social gaming!
How Do I Play With The 1X2 Hand?
Let’s take a look at how to play with the 1X2 hand under the English rules:
- You are dealt 2 cards, one face down and one face up.
- Your face down card is revealed to be a 10 or a Jack (depending on whether you’re using English or French Cards).
- Your face up card is revealed to be a Queen or a King (again, depending on whether you’re using English or French Cards).
- You must bet according to the following formula:
- 1 unit for a Queen or King
- 2 units for a 10 or a Jack.
If you’ve ever played Monopoly or Risk, then this should feel pretty familiar. You need to work out how to place a bet given the cards you’re dealt, and you need to do this so that you have enough money left over to cover your next bet when the time comes. You can also apply this method to other card games, such as Spades or Tarot. It’s a simple yet effective strategy that makes using the 1X2 hand very entertaining.
The Ups And Downs Of 1X2
Although the 1X2 hand is a perfectly sound strategy for casual gamers who are just playing for fun, it doesn’t hold much charm for those who wish to become professional poker players. The reason being that, as a beginner, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be able to successfully use the 1X2 hand in tournaments. Even the most skilled poker players have difficulties hitting their hands when they’re only dealt 2 cards at random!
To succeed in tournaments, you must first build up a bankroll. This is simply money that you’re accumulating beforehand that you’re not willing to lose. It’s a good idea to enter tournaments with an initial stake of £100 or more so that you have a better chance of winning. You don’t want to use money that you’ve actually earned, especially if you intend on winning large sums of money.
Even then, you must be cautious not to overextend yourself. As a beginner, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be able to use the 1X2 hand in a tournament where the blinds are anything more than 1 unit or 2 units. When playing in smaller tournaments, you’re usually safe to use the 1X2 hand until the money is practically in your grasp. Once this point is reached, you can then start considering alternatives.
As you get more experienced, you’ll be able to use the 1X2 hand in more and more situations. Even then, you must still be careful not to overextend yourself too much. Who knows – maybe soon you’ll be able to use this effective strategy in the biggest tournaments out there!
Thoughts? Have you ever used the 1X2 hand in a poker game? Do you play with the 1X2 hand in any other card games? Let us know! And for more informations, read our Tips For Playing Better Poker and check out our guides to winning online poker tournaments.