Dave's 7 Card Stud Tips
7 Card Stud
by Dave Colclough
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.
When I started to play poker competitions in the casinos of England
almost 20 years ago, there would be twice as many 7 Card competitions
as opposed to Hold'em competitions. Although it 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 on bet365 poker here
are a few pointers.
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 starting hands you can play
varies considerably depending on the amount of players at the table.
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 has an interesting additional factor. You can see everyone's
open card. This is valuable information concerning your hand as
well.
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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.
7 Card also has 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.
Where 7 Card 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, 7 Card Stud is fun.
Dave
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