Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky is a poker term for the hand consisting of a 9 and a 9. It is named after the famous ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky, who wore the number 99 during his professional career.

What Is Wayne Gretzky In Poker?

In poker, Wayne Gretzky refers to holding a pair of nines (9,9) in your hole cards. This term is a nod to the legendary ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, who wore the jersey number 99 throughout his professional career. A pair of nines is a solid starting hand in Texas Hold'em, although it needs to be played with caution against aggressive pre-flop action.

The Significance Of The Wayne Gretzky Hand

The Wayne Gretzky hand (9,9) is a fairly strong starting hand in Texas Hold'em. While it's not a premium pocket pair like aces, kings, or queens, it's still a hand that can win a lot of chips if played correctly. The key with a pair of nines is to understand its relative strength.

It can often win unimproved against lower pocket pairs and high-card hands, but it struggles against higher pocket pairs and hands that connect with community cards to make straights or flushes. Be careful if facing aggression, particularly preflop. At best, you could be flipping and at worst you'll be dominated by a higher pair.

Example Of "Wayne Gretzky"

An example of the Wayne Gretzky hand in action could be in a game of Texas Hold'em. You're dealt a pair of nines. The flop comes and there's no overcards on the board. With your Wayne Gretzky hand, you're likely to be in the lead.

• "I was dealt Wayne Gretzky and decided to raise pre-flop."
• "With my Wayne Gretzky, I hit a set on the flop."
• "The Wayne Gretzky can be a winning hand if played correctly."