Seven card stud is one of the oldest forms of poker played in casinos today and was the most popular game for many years before the increase in popularity of texas holdem. In many areas, especially Los Angeles and Atlantic City, you can still find Stud games at various levels. This article will cover some of the basics to learning seven card stud.
Seven card stud is normally played with a maximum of 8 players. Each player typically put in an ante before a hand is dealt. Each player is dealt three cards. Two cards are dealt face down and the third is dealt face up. The lowest card showing, also known as the door card, makes a forced bet known as a bring-in, which is equivalent to twice the ante in most cases. The player also has the option to make a completion bet. In most games, the bring-in bet does not equal the smallest bet option. For example, in a $3-$6 stud game with a 50 cent ante, the bring-in would be $1. A completion would be $3. If a completion bet is made then, normal limit betting applies; otherwise, players are only required to call the bring-in. After the deal, the next card, known as fourth street is dealt face up as well. In fact, fourth through sixth streets are all dealt face up. The player that is showing the highest hand is first to bet. On fifth street, the betting limits double. In the above example, fifth street forward would be bet in increments of $6. After action is completed on fifth and sixth streets, the river card is dealt face down to each player, followed by another round of betting. After the betting, the players show their hands. The player with the best five card hand wins the pot.
First, before we go into starting hands, let’s touch on the subject of tracking up cards. Unlike holdem and omaha, each play receives their own unique hand in stud. In addition, up to four cards may be exposed in any one player’s hand. Keeping track of up cards, both showing and folded, becomes of high importance. If you have an opponent that is showing a gutshot straight draw that needs a five, and you know that three of the fives have been folded, you know the player only has one out to catch his hand. This type of knowledge is crucial in being able to make decision as to whether to call, raise, or fold in a stud hand.
Position is less of a factor in Stud than in other forms of poker. The main reason is that position can potentially change with each flip of a card. The highest showing hand on each street determines the betting order. As you become more skilled in stud, there will be times that you may be able to use position on third street to your advantage, but as a beginner playing in low stakes stud games, position is next to irrelevant.
Let’s review starting hands for a moment. The best starting hand is a rolled up set, with three aces being the best starting set. Buried pairs are also really strong. As implied by the name, a buried pair is when your down cards for a pair and your door card is unrelated. The strength in this hand is in its deceptive nature. If you have a 3 showing and two tens in the hole, chances are high that you will get a lot of action when you catch a ten and bet out or even raise a bet made into you. A split pair occurs when your door card matches one of your down cards. This type of hand isn’t as easy to disguise and can kill action if you pair up your door card right away. Especially at low levels, when a player pairs their door card, they typically have made a set. A three card flush can either be a really strong hand or a trap hand. While learning, I would recommend playing three card flushes that either include an ace or have multiple high cards. This allows you the chance to improve your hand without having to catch a card of the same suit. Three card straight flush draws are the best type of flush draw to have, but I would play low straight flush draws very carefully. Unless you catch fortunate, a low flush draw can easily be outdrawn. Three card straights are tricky hands to play. Three running straight cards are the best type of straight draws to play, preferably with the straight running to the high side. Gutshot straight draws should be avoided while you’re learning stud.
Let’s look at starting hands a little deeper. As mentioned earlier, you want to keep a close eye on upcards in stud. This is extra important on deciding what hands to play. If you are dealt a high pair, such as kings and see another king and maybe one of your kickers out, then the odds are stacked against you to play the hand. The same holds true for straight and flush draws. When you start with the initial deal and you are dealt a flush draw, if more than two cards of your suit are showing, then you need to get out of the hand. The same holds true for a straight draw. Furthermore, if two or more of any single card needed to complete your straight draw is showing, you need to get out of the hand. You need to also take heed of the same things on future streets in the hand. Starting off on third with a flush draw and all cards of your suit are live is great, but if on the next street you don’t catch a fourth suited card and three other cards of your suit are showing, it’s time to fold.
Seven card stud is an old classic that is beginning to make a bit of a comeback due to mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. Unlike holdem, it is much more complex and requires greater focus and discipline while learning the game. The tips above should give you a great start in learning this classic game. Good luck to you at the tables.
