7 card stud has started to gain in popularity because of the mixed games that are quickly becoming players favorites. In looking for a little more spice than hold’em on its own can offer, HORSE allows you to play 5 different games. The well rounded poker player can dominate these types of tournaments and cash games. In order to do so, you are going to have to master playing 7 card stud as it shows up in three different varieties in the game of HORSE.

The original 7 card stud game is the 4th leg of HORSE and where a seasoned player can really make a move. A lot of players will fall in love with certain hands when they are clearly second best or worst. This is the type of scenario that you need to avoid. If you are not clearly going for the best hand, you have to get out.

Hands that cost 7 card stud players the most money are mid pairs that they play out on the string. For example, you have Q9 in the hole a 9 on board. There are 6 other players in the game and they are showing A, K, 10, J, 7, and a 5. The 5 leads out on a force bet, the A calls and then the K raises, the 10 folds, the J calls and then the folds. You are next to play, what do you do?

If you are smart, you are going to dump the hand. You can be pretty sure that you are up against KK and possibly JJ. You still have the A to play behind you who very well may be setting up a check raise. The problem is the at most amateur players are going to fall in love with their split pair and will try to chase it down. It is the wrong decision and it is going to cost you a ton of money in the end.

It has been said before and it is worth saying again, stud is not a chasers game. With so many bets, you will end up broke if you continue to chase down hands. If you are not clearly sitting on the best, you must get out of the hand. In reality, the only hand that should still be playing in this example is the K and depending upon what the A does, he should possibly be out of the hand.

One of the major keys to 7 card stud is ensuring that you are not chasing down a losing hand. While you cannot always assume that the player has matched their card underneath when they are showing a high card, how they play against the other high cards gives you a ton of information.

Here, it would be foolish for the K to fire unless he was already paired up. He can be assured that anyone behind him that has matched a card will at the very least call him if not come over the top to see where they stand. Of course, he still has the A that is in front of him to worry about as well. You can easily see where playing mid and small pairs can get you into a heap of trouble. When you are deciding to go in or not, you want three cards to the flush or straight or the high pair going on board. If you play to anything else, you are playing to second best.

There are many players that debate how one should play hands with a door card ace. Some are of the school of thought that you should almost always raise with a door card ace, while others take the approach to raise if they are in late position. Let’s take a look at how you should play door card aces, especially if you are establishing table image.

The obvious time to raise with an ace is when you have a pair of aces. This put players at the table on notice that you are likely to have a pair of aces. If you are not raising with every ace, then you are more likely to get credit for the raise with an ace.

Other times to raise with an ace include when you are playing a three card flush or three big cards to a straight. When playing three cards to the straight or to the flush, improving by 4th street is ideal. When playing three big straight cards, catching a pair will many times put you solidly in the lead in the hand. If you do not improve to a four flush or a four straight by fifth street, you need to abandon the hand.

One time you may want to stay away from raising with an ace showing is when you are rolled up with aces. At this point, slow playing is an option you should consider. One argument against slow playing a set is letting players into the pot that can outdraw you. Trip aces on third is outdrawn so infrequently that in many cases, slow playing will get you the most money with the hand. Of course, if you are in a loose game where a raise is frequently called, then go with the raise.

Be careful when playing a split pair of aces against an open pair on fourth street. In stud, an open pair on fourth will turn out to be trips many times. Knowing this, there are also times, such as raising with three straight cards, you will catch a pair of aces on fourth and can take the pot down right there.

Be careful with raising with an ace and nothing for backup. After you establish your table image, you can sometimes raise with an ace and take the pot on third. If you are in a tournament you can get away with a raise on third with only an ace later in a tournament somewhat frequently, but in a cash game, doing this often can lead to a bleed on your chips.

By selectively raising with a door card ace, you will establish a tight image, and your raise will get more respect. Also, it will enable you to control the variance experienced by players that raise with any ace. Good luck to you at the tables.