Poker Cliches & "Don't slip on the Montana Banana"

Discussion at the table recently about poker cliches.  Here are a few, feel free to add some.  They are often used to "justify" really bad calls.

1.  But they were suited.
2.  I had to call, I was getting pot odds (when clearly they were not).
3.  Big (or small) blind special.
4.  It's my favorite hand.
5.  I won a big pot with this once (sometimes not verbalized).
6. It has a name.  Hmmm, "flat tire", "San Francisco busboy", "Montana banana", "Dolly Parton".  These are all names of really crappy hands.  On a side note, my aces were cracked recently by the 9/2 with my preflop raise of $10 when he was the first caller.
7.  I was priced in.
8.  Had to defend my blind.
9.  Playing the heater.  Actually seem to be a valid reason at times when the deck is running over you.
10.  The voices inside my head told me to.  Not actually heard but maybe was by some players.

I was playing/supervising a $2-$4 limit Texas Hold’em game last night. One of the more entertaining players at the table would often say before the flop, “I think my 9-2 is good.”

It reminded me that although most poker hands that have names are above average starting hands (i.e. A-A, Q-Q) but some very weak preflop holdings also have unique names.

The 9-2 offsuit is referred to as the Montana Banana. It’s a hand that is better suited for the casino game blackjack (for a double down bet or just to draw a face card for a 21) than any poker game, and that is where the name derives from.

The 9-2 offsuit is called the Montana Banana, as the legend goes, because banana will grow in Montana before it ever wins a hand of poker.

There is also a myth that the 9-2 offsuit is called the Montana Banana because poker player was legalized in Montana by Proposition 92. However, poker was actually legalized in Montana through the Card Games Act, 23-5-311.

The next time you get dealt a 9-2 offsuit, don’t slip on the Montana Banana.