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Starting hand selection in 7-card stud poker depends on several inter-related factors. These include the showing cards of the competitors, there tendencies and whether your own hand is disguised. Selecting the wrong starting hand in 7-card stud can be a expensive error – as you will normally be ‘priced-in’ to calling later due to attractive pot-odds. This article looks at the best starting hands in 7-card stud to help you avail at the tables today.
We begin by looking at the very strongest hands- trips- and how these should be played on early streets. Next high pairs are covered and the effects of these hands being hidden are examined. How and when to play lower pairs come next, followed by a look at 3-flushes and 3-straights as stud poker starting hands.
Pairs
High pairs, especially aces and kings are excellent starting hands in 7-card stud. These benefit greatly from being hidden or in the ‘hole’. For instance if one of your aces is visible on 3rd street then hitting another ace during the hand may well stop you getting action. However instead if you have a 9 visible then another ace would appear harmless to your competitors when the truth is you have a monster hand. Lower pairs are potentially dangerous starting hands in 7 card stud poker and should be treated with caution. One vital factor (other than it being hidden) is whether your pair is higher than the highest showing card in your competitors hands – If yes then, these starting hands can be played for a raise. If not then the rank of your unpaired card comes into play – If this is greater than the up-card of a competitor who has the bet you can be more inclined to play the hand. The smaller pairs are only playable when you close the betting on the 3rd street, you are looking to advance cheaply on the 4th or exit the hand.
There are 2 other vital factors when competing in all paired hands in 7 card stud poker. The number of duplicate cards to your pair, and the tendencies of your competitors. For instance a pair of 9’s in unplayable with two other 9’s visible and should rarely be played with 1 other 9 accounted for. A pair under that of a betting competitor’s door-card should be played cautiously. However if this competitor raises on a regular basis with the highest showing door-card whether paired or not you can play more aggressively – in many cases a early re-raise will provide you the information you need regarding whether to continue or not.
Flush Draws
Three cards to a flush are an excellent starting hand, as long as your flush is ‘live’. If you have seen three of your suit in the hands of competitors then your 3-flush can be folded. With two of your suit already out, the rank of your cards comes into play. With high card value as a backup, then a speculative call at the table may be worth a shot.
Trips
Being dealt trips in 7-card stud is always fabulous news – not only do you have the best possible starting hand, but it is well disguised from you’re competitors too. Trips on 3rd street in Stud poker are also known as ‘rolled up hand’, for instance ‘rolled up kings’. In contrast to many other hands, trips do not mind multi-way action. With this in mind your position affects the way that this hand should be played.
If you’re in a early position compared to the ‘bring in ‘then calling to get more competitors into the pot is usually the most beneficial for you. If you act after several limpers then the ideal thing would be to rise – getting more money into the pot by making your competitors call a second minute bet. With trips you’re chances of improving to a full house are larger. Make sure you charge competitors for each street, but bear in mind not to scare everyone away by making it two bets to go.
Straight draws
Ultimately, 3 cards to a straight are sometimes playable starting hands. Again high card value factors in as do the number of cards that you need that are already seen. In the case of straights you will need to look out for cards 2 ranks as well as one. If you advance to open-ended straight draw status on a later street you will need one of the 2-rank away cards to finish your hand.
I conclude, the greatest 7 card stud starting hands are trips. Other hands need other factors taken into consideration such as the number of seen cards, whether your strength is hidden and tendencies of competitors who have raised ahead of you.
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. You play five card draw as usual, but without the betting. Whoever has the weakest hand takes an item of clothing off. Which item, is decided by whoever holds the strongest hand.