World Series Of Poker Final Hand Odds: Two Pair Or Better Is Favorite Final Table Choice

And it’s such a strong starting hand that oddsmakers have set it as the benchmark in predicting what the winning hand will be at the 2012 edition of the global poker tournament.

“It’s not always a great hand to play, but even medium pocket pairs are terrific in heads-up play,” said Greg Hasen of Pokersites.com. “It’s probably why the final hand has started that way so frequently at the WSOP Final Table.”

Bovada earlier posted World Series of Poker odds and pegged chip leader Jesse Sylvia as the 3/1 favorite. But the creative oddsmakers there have also introduced a fun prop bet into the mix: What will be the winning/final hand at the 2012 WSOP Main Event?

The betting choices are two pair or better as the favorite position at -130 and one pair or lower at -110. It’s wagering fun for the poker public, but the decision is worth millions to the November Nine, who will sit down in front of the ESPN cameras.

The winner $8,527,982 while the player he beats head-to-head pockets $5,292,889.

2009 - Joe Cada was dealt a pair of 9s that held up as the board was rags vs Darvin Moon. He became the youngest champion and earned $8,546,435.

2007 - Jerry Yang was heads-up against Tuan Lam, when he caught pocket 8s against Lam's suited Ace-Queen. He hit a nine-high straight on the river after Lam had paired his queen on the flop. Yang won $8,250,000 for the victory.

2004 - Greg Raymer also had pocket 8s and the board held up against David Williams. He earned $5 million when his full house was better than Williams.

Twice in the past 11 years, a pocket pair doomed a player. Paul Wasicka has pocket 10s against Jamie Gold in 2006 and lost and Dewey Tomko had pocket aces back in 2001 but lost to Juan Carlos Mortenson.