7 Card Stud Poker Strategy Starts Here
Just for a change, here are a few notes on
one of the other variations of poker. Nowadays, Texas
Hold'em is by far the most popular game, but 7 Card Stud
used to hold that title in the not so distant past....
Starting Out With My 7 Card Stud Poker Strategy
When I
started to play poker competitions in the casinos of England
almost 20 years ago, there would be twice as many 7 Card
Stud competitions as opposed to Hold'em competitions.
Although
7 Card Stud Poker
has steadily declined over the years, it is still often
played, and I find it a very enjoyable change. So if you
fancy having a bash on the 7 Card tables then
here are a few pointers from my 7 Card Stud Poker Strategy.
Whilst trying to get everyone up to
a reasonable level at Hold 'em, I have laboured on about
starting hands. The reason for this is because most
beginners at poker want to play every hand. When you are
starting out, discipline is the most difficult attribute to
master. Unfortunately, 7 Card Stud is similar. You really
don't want to go to war without some decent armoury.
Again just like Hold'em the type of staring
hands you can play varies considerably depending on the
amount of players at the table. But there are some specific
7 Card Poker Strategy hot buttons to watch out for....
If you are
playing 8 handed then I would suggest you need:
-
a high pair of Kings or Aces
-
a medium pair with an ace kicker
-
three cards of the same suit including
the ace
If you were playing 4 handed then I would
suggest:
-
any pair is playable
-
any three cards to a suit (providing
they are 'live')
-
any three high running cards (providing
they are 'live')
-
AK or AQ with any other card
And obviously if you are playing 5, 6 or 7
handed then you have to find a balance between the two
examples. The importance of the ace kicker in the first
example, and the ace within your flushing cards, is
obviously that you may hit an Ace. A pair of Aces, or Aces
up is very strong in 7 Card Stud. (When you are playing 8
handed, you have to be very careful with Kings, and Queens
are very dangerous.) Often in 7 card you may start trying to
make a flush or straight, but end up winning the pot with
two pair. The chances of this happening depend on how 'live'
your cards are:
7 Card Stud Poker has an
interesting additional factor. You can see everyone's open
card. This is valuable information concerning your hand as
well.
If you can see that two of your opponents
have an Ace showing, and you have one hidden, you know it's
unlikely that either of them have a pair of Aces. More
importantly though, there is much less of a chance of you
pairing your ace. It is not 'live'.
If you have been dealt three spades, but you
can see three of your opponents were dealt an open spade as
well, the chances of you making a flush is greatly
diminished. I don't play flush draws if I can see two others
from the same suit dealt to my opponents.
Should you be dealt 10,J,Q, you may be
trying to make a straight, but if you can't see any 10s,Js
or Qs then you have a very 'live' hand, and could just as
easily make a winning two pair or full house.
In developing your 7 Card Stud Poker
Strategy remember that you have the same positional
similarities to Hold'em. If you have been dealt a pair of
Kings, but two of your opponents behind who haven't acted
yet, are showing an open Ace, then you have to tread very
carefully indeed. As your opponents have been dealt three
cards as opposed to two cards to start, the chances of
someone having Aces are far greater in 7 Card than Hold'em.
7 Card Stud Poker Strategy Gets Interesting
Where the 7 Card Stud Poker Strategy becomes interesting though, is when the game
progresses through the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th cards. As the
cards are dealt, you are constantly being fed information.
The odds on your opponent having improved are there right in
front of you. And of course the odds on your hand improving
are changing depending on what cards you can see.
A typical starting hand may be J,J, Ace showing. You suspect
your opponent may have a pair of Aces, but there are no open
Jacks. It would be really nice to be dealt a Jack to match
your hidden cards.
There is no way your opponent can read
you for three Jacks, and you will probably get paid all the
way. It may well be correct to call on third and fourth
street because you cant see any Jacks. But often you will
then see one or both the remaining Jacks pop out being dealt
to opponents on your right and left. Very frustrating, but
it now makes your hand an easy pass. The chances of you
making a winning hand have now shrunk enormously.
Likewise with your flush and straight draws. If your first
four cards are 8,9,10,J but you can see two 7s and two Qs
out, then you will be lucky to make your straight.
Conversely, if you can't see any 7s or Qs, then you have to
fancy your chances, and it is probably worth gambling
against better hands.
Have a go at
implementing your new 7 Card Stud
Poker Strategy!
Play 7 Card Poker Stud at
Littlewoods Poker
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