In the old days of playing poker, well before ESPN was airing the World Series of Poker on a continuous loop, there was seven-card stud. Stud (the game's shorthand, which could mean five or seven card) was often the game of choice for home games. Its popularity derived from the larger pots produced by having five opportunities to bet. It was eventually pushed aside in popularity by Texas Hold-em and, to a lesser extent, Omaha. But we've seen more and more Stud games popping up. People that know how to play Stud could profit from a playing field of less knowledgable players bored from playing Hold-em all day.

Seven-Card Stud Overview

Think of this game as a numerical pattern: two down, four up and one down. The game starts with an ante. Everyone spits a few chips into the pot. Three cards are dealt to each player: the first two face down the last face up. That's when the betting starts. After a round of betting another card is dealt face up with another round of betting. As long as there are players this cntinues until the seventh card is dealt face down. The player with the best five cards out of seven wins.

Seven-Card Stud Strategy

What makes Stud less popoular than Hold-em is that it's exceedingly harder than Hold-em. In Hold-em there are only five cards on the table - the community cards. In Seven Card Stud there can be as many as twenty-five (25) cards on the table. This doesn't factor in that each player by the river is holding onto three cards that are hidden. With each succeeding card the game has changed. It's easy in Hold-em to cal;culate how the game has changed; Seven-Card Stud not so much.

With each card you must solve these three puzzles:

How does the card help me?

How does the card help the person receiving the card?

How does the card affect the rest of the table?

That's why more people like Hold-em.

One of the most important factors in winning any poker game is not to waste your money. How do you waste your in Seven-Card Stud? Not understanding when to fold. Okay, that's an easy answer that says nothing. Woo hoo! What people do too often in any type of poker is play for cards on the come. If you remember the old saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" then you'll understand why I like people to play with cards, not without them.

Cards to Play

Once you've been dealt three cards the betting will begin. Obviously, as long as you can check there is no reason to fold. But there are only four instances where you should actually bet, unless you're attempting to steal the ante. These are all "bird in the hand" moments.

Three of a Kind

This is the best possible hand. And the higher the better. When dealt three of a kind (trips) it's best to slow play your hand, at least early on. Either check or call but don't bet overtly for fear you'll chase people away from the betting. There is a good chance you can win with this hand without any improvement. But as more cards are dealt the chance of improving your hand (four of a kind, full house) is slim in comparison to others on the board. This means the odds of winning the hand are less and less as the hand continues. Don't get cocky, once you've gotten to your fifth card the others must pay to play and you should be more of an aggressor.

High Pair

This is a good hand only if the pair is in the upper register (10/10-A/A). Remember that while you have a bird in the hand you're likely in need of a second pair or a third card to make this hand a winner. In some respects this hand is much like a middle pair in Texas Hold-em. You want to bet. You want to get rid of other players minimizing the amount of opportunities of people holding high single cards lucking into a winning hand. If you can't improve on your hand then chances of victory gets slimmer with each succeeding card. Play cautiously.

Three to a Flush

This hand is fine to play as long as it costs little money to play it. But you're playing for cards. And if you don't receve them the chase is costing you money. Watch the other cards. You need five of one suit and the more cards that become dead to you the less likely you'll get there. Raising is fine with a high card showing but chances of making the flush happen is slim enough so that excessive betting better be in the form of a cold bluff, not in hopes of help from the poker gods. And it's just as good to limp along betting little if you can.

Three to a Straight

This is similar to the flush except that your hand isn't as strong. Only play these if their openended unless you have a couple higher cards A-K or Q and might hit a significant pair. And like a flush you'd rather get by as cheaply as you can. Fold as the betting gets stiff or if the cards you need are being eaten up by others. We rarely play three to a straight unless we're flush with case and want to speculate.

Cards Not to Play

High Singles

This is not Texas hold-em. For the most part K-Q-2 is a losing hand. It will suck you dry. .

Best Seven-Card Stud Advice Ever

When in doubt fold. Most people overestimate their hands. And in Stud playing on the come is the drug of the fool. If you're saying "Just one more card" you've lost.