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Seven
Card Stud Poker Strategy
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Bankroll Management
As mentioned in our Seven Card Stud Rules section, the minimum Buy-In is typically 10-times the low limit, or $20 for a $2-$4 game. But playing with the minimum is not recommended. Using the 40-times recommendation, the player should buy in with a minimum of $80 for the $2-$4 games, $320 for the $8-$16 games, and $400 for the $10-$20.
You can always play with less, but the chances are you won't have enough to see you through to the point where you've got a feel for the other players and can bring your skills to bear. If you're
under funded you'll be nervous and therefore at a disadvantage right off the top.
Choosing a Game
Stud games are defined by their betting limits. The low stakes online games are usually $2-$4 while the higher games are typically $8-$16 or $10-$20. I've seen land casino Stud at $100-$200 or higher, but these stakes are very rare on the web.
The game's betting limits tell the Stud player pretty much everything they need to know about the nature of the game, the expectations of the players, and the size of the bankroll you should have before you sit in.
The Ante
As mentioned in the Stud Rules Section the usual Ante in the lower-end games is 10% of the low betting limit. When the betting limits climb so does this percentage, up to 25% or so. These higher percentage Antes actually change the nature of the game. The proportionally larger pot makes it worthwhile to come in strong in an attempt to "steal" the Antes.
Different games, different strategies
When stealing the Ante becomes a worthwhile proposition, the speed and intensity of play also increases, which in turn requires a shift in playing strategy. Stud players traditionally find it difficult to make the transition to the higher betting limits precisely because of this change.
Level of play
It should come as no surprise that the big games attract the big players. A rookie can and will get eaten alive by the sharks at the $100-$200 tables without learning much in the process. What's the point of that? Remember, Stud is a skill game and overestimating yours will cost you money.
Seven Card Stud Strategy
Playing the Cards
A major part of any winning player's strategy has to be card memory and card analysis. Studying what's on the table and what it could mean is critical in Stud. You must observe the upcards in each street and ask yourself:
- does it help or hurt your chances?
- does it help or hurt the receiving player's chances?
- does it help or hurt the other player's chances?
Trips Three of a Kind (a.k.a Trips, "a set") is the best opening hand in 7-Card Stud and the higher the rank the better. They can often win you the round without improvement and leave you great flexibility in your betting and positioning in the coming streets.
If anyone at the table knew you held Trips right off, they'd almost certainly Fold. The usual recommendation is to take it slow and hide what you've got. Bet modestly, Check or Call as necessary, until you're in the high streets (5-7th) where you can drag more money into the pot.
You want to keep as many players in as long as possible because you're probably going to beat them. This is called the "slow play" and is designed to maximize the pot.
If you're holding a set of "scare cards" (Aces or Kings), or highest door card, keep in mind that everyone is expecting you to Raise, so if you don't they're going to wonder what's up. With anything other than the scare cards there's no need to bother.
At "the turn" (fourth street) you continue to play modestly, keeping the other players in.
Once you hit fifth it's time to make the others pay to stay. If they're still in at the fifth, the chances are that they'll want to see the "river" (seventh street) and won't be scared off by the steeper action you provide.
As ever, watch the opponents cards watching for anything that could honestly threaten your potential win.
High Pairs
After Trips, a High Pair (10s or better) is the best starting hand you could hope for. If the paired cards are in the hole (face down) that's even better: open cards are worth less since the others can see or surmise what you've got. This is a solid position for an opening Bet or Raise or even a re-Raise if you hold highest door, J or better.
Don't be afraid of strong betting in third and fourth streets because you want to eliminate as many players as possible while it's cheap to do so. You still need to improve on your hand so you don't want anyone to pull cards for free.
If there are better door cards on the table--you've got holed Queens and there's a King and Ace on the table--it's probably wise to leave it at a single Raise. If it's two Aces, for example, on the table then don't hesitate since it's already looking like a broken threat.
If you door card is reasonable, say a 10 or Jack, and the High Pair is buried you're in an ideal situation. Your Raise will look like you're moving on the Paired 10s, for example, and the other players will respond accordingly. You're in an excellent position to pull them in deeper in the later streets.
By fifth the remaining hands that do not have an obvious strong position (non-paired opens) are probably draw hands. Raise in order to knock them out.
Sixth and seventh: if you're not beaten by the open cards and you've improved on the Pair, Raise. Otherwise you have to consider Folding, or at least Check along if there's no Raises to match and nothing on the table looks threatening.
Seven Card Stud Strategy Guide
Reading the Players
Anything that gives a player's feelings or intentions away is called a "tell" and learning to read these is a key component of Poker play. Obviously when you play online, you're don't have direct access to this information, so the dynamics of the game change a bit. But there can still be ways to gain this type of information.
The chat box that appears in most online Poker games can be a dead give-away. I've been in games where players would jump on the chat box as soon as they read their cards and had a good hand. They're happy and they want to share their good feelings with others. A shrewd Poker player absorbs this information and uses it to gain a playing edge.
I've also seen players who would jump on and cuss the cards whenever he thought he'd received something good: he's trying to lull the other players into thinking they've got him beat. Same story: use what you know about his playing style to beat him and take his money.
( Play Seven Card Stud Online for free at Poker Room).
When Should you Bluff?
The do's and don't of bluffing could fill a small book on their own, but here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind:
- avoid bluffing heavy winners: they can afford to Call and usually do.
- beginners are often desperate to know what you've got and will Call just for the sake of knowing.
- experienced players play a cagey game, are studying your actions more closely, and are often easier to bluff.
- ask yourself how good your cards might look to the other players. Don't bluff without at least a little something in your hand to make it look threatening.
Read this Seven Card Stud Strategy Guide again??
A big thanks to WinnerOnline for providing this poker strategy guide.
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