7 Card Stud Strategy
Rules of the Game
7 card stud poker strategy is valuable, and good information is hard to come. Many serious stud poker players develop their strategies through experience at live tables which can be costly and even frustrating. Seven card stud poker odds offers players 40%+ more profit than Texas Hold 'Em in multi-way pots called to the river. The classic game of Seven Card Stud looks so easy, but there's a lot of strategy involved. Get the best tips and tricks for this classic poker game. After betting on the 7 th street, or final card, the showdown occurs and the player with the best five cards is declared the winner. Standard poker hand rank is considered in declaring the winner. 7 Card Stud Strategy: Hand Selection. The most important decision in 7 Card Stud strategies is the starting hand selection. The most playable hand is. Seven-card stud is generally a high hand wins game, however there are variations where the low hand is the winner (Razz) or where the pot is split between the high and low hands (High-Low.) Standard rules of play are pretty much the same in these games; however, strategy in betting will change significantly, so play wisely.
Seven Card Stud strategy. Like every other poker variation, there is a lot to playing a good game of Stud. We can’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the intricacies of the game in this article but we can give you a few solid tips for Seven Card Stud to give you the push in the right direction.
Seven Card Stud is an American classic but many players entering poker post Moneymaker boom may not have been exposed to the game. Every player antes and then “3rd street “is dealt with two cards down and a “door card” face up. The player with the lowest card is then forced to bring in another bet and the action continues with the player to the immediate left of this “bring-in”. This player has the option to fold, call the bring-in or “complete” the bet to the lower betting limit. For example, in a typical $20/$40 game everyone antes $3, the forced bring is $5, and completing the bet would be $20. As the action moves around the table, players may raise a completion with the usual maximum for the round being four raises or in this case $80.
On the successive betting rounds the highest ranked hand acts first and the action continues around the table clockwise. The fourth, fifth, and sixth street cards are dealt face up while seventh is dealt down. When compared with flop and draw games, stud games have an extra betting round.
The popularity of Seven Card Stud took a huge hit as a result of the Hold’em boom; however, the games in Atlantic City and Foxwoods are still plentiful and action filled. In addition, Stud is a component of HORSE and other mixed game tournaments throughout the country so it is certainly a game worth learning. Stud is a great game for observant players due to the fact that folded board cards can drastically impact hand values. This along with the extra betting round makes it a great game for skillful players to extract money from weaker ones.
Basic Strategy
Most of the hands you will get involved with are the big pairs and the best strategy is usually to play them in a straightforward fashion and simply keep betting until the boards or action makes it appear as if you may not have the best hand.. It does not pay to get tricky with these hands; a pair of aces would be lucky to survive a multi-way pot but it can easily make a lot of money against one obstinate opponent chasing with a lower pair.
It is important to be exercise proper hand selection on 3rd street because mistakes made there can easily lead to more costly ones as the hand develops. The most common leak of most players is that they constantly put themselves in situations where they are improperly chasing a higher pair. When a tight player completes in early position with an ace up it is best to simply fold the vast majority of your pairs. The only paired hands really worth playing in this situation would be hands like (J♣T♥)J♥ or (6♣6♦)7♣ where you have a straight flush kicker with the latter hand having the additional benefit of the pair being in the hole. The implied odds here are greater as you can make very well disguised trips. However, you do not automatically go the end with these ends. The situation needs to be re-evaluated on 5th street.
Pairs without straight flush kickers should be folded; even those as good as (Q♣5♥)Q♠. This takes extreme discipline (especially when you been card dead for a while) but keep in mind we are talking about a straightforward player from early position. If your opponent has aces, he has both the best hand and the best draw and since your opponent’s kicker is hidden you will not know if or when he makes two pair. The situation would be dramatically different if you instead held the (Q♣A♥)Q♠ and were facing a raise from a king up card; here you would definitely play as long as your cards were mostly live.
In general if there is a high likelihood that you are up against a big pair you require either a straight/flush kicker or one that is higher than your opponent’s pair. See the advanced articles for detailed guidance on how to play these types of hands.
When you are playing drawing hands such as the three flushes and straights it is imperative that your cards are live. If you improve your draw on 4th street you will usually continue on for the remainder to the hand but there are some situations where you need to fold. One clear example is when a player you have pegged for probably having a pair of aces hits another ace on 4th street. When your opponent has trips he has both the best hand and the best draw and since it is still relatively early in the hand it is time to go out.
When starting out in Stud, focus on the following principles and you will more than hold your own as you learn the nuances of the game:
- Play live hands (i.e. The cards that will improve your hand are not on the board)
- Start with the best hand
- If you don’t have the best hand you should believe you have the best draw
Discussion on Starting Hands Types
- Rolled Up Trips – You will be dealt this monster every 424 hands and while the urge to slow play them is strong you should tend to play your hand fast the majority of the time. When you hold low trips someone could very easily pair their door card and take the lead in the hand. Also players will often put you on a high pair in the hole so if they later pair their board that isn’t a higher door card you can often get additional action later hand. With high trips it’s typically optimal to play it the same as you would if you just had the big pair. You usually get action anyway, and may actually arouse suspicion if you are an aggressive player and are playing a high card meekly.
- Three High Cards to a Straight Flush – Hands like (A♠K♠)Q♠ and (Q♥J♥)T♥ are premium holdings because they can make big flushes, straights, and high pairs. They should often be played strongly both to get more money into the pot and if you limit the field you have a greater chance to win with a large pair in the event that your flush and straight draws do not pan out. Just pile in the money and see how many players come along, these hands play well both shorthanded and multi-way.
- Big Pairs – Tens through Aces are usually what players refer to as the big pairs but in Stud hand values are always relative. On boards with many high cards a pair of tens may not be worth much while on other boards a pair of eights has a good chance of being the best pair. Big pairs are the bread and butter hands in Stud; they are the hands you will be playing and going to the end with most often.
- Three Flushes – These can range from super premium such as the (A♠K♠)Q♠ with live cards to money losing holdings such as a (7♦3♦)2♦ with four other diamonds out on the board. When deciding whether or not to play a flush draw the following should be considered:
- Is your suit live? With two or more of your suit out your holding typically needs to hold other value to be worth playing.
- Do you have high cards that if paired would probably beat another player’s probable pair? For example an AK9 with live aces and kings but with three hearts out is playable versus an opponent with a queen up.
- Are your cards connected? Straight outs to go along with a three flush can add much value.
- Do you have a good chance to steal the antes? A weaker flush draw can be played if there is a reasonable chance that you can win the pot uncontested.
- Three Straights – Similar to flush draws these holdings range from very strong to easily foldable. A three straight is strongest when there are no gaps but there are other considerations:
- Are he straight cards are live? For example if you hold (78)9 it is mostly important to notice how many tens and sixes are out on board but also take notice of the fives and jacks.
- Once again the presence of high cards that if paired may trump another player’s probable pair. If you hold (TJ)Q you have an easy re-raise against a player who completed with a seven up. If the seven simply called the bring-in you should almost always complete the bet yourself.
- A two flush adds much value to your holding especially in a multi-way pot
- Straight draws lose a lot of value when the pot is being contested by five or more players; even if you are able to complete your draw there is a greater chance of looking at a flush or full house at the end of the hand.
- As usual if there is a reasonable chance that you may be able to successfully steal the antes it is acceptable to complete the bet with a less than stellar holding.
- Small and Medium Pairs – Usually considered to be 22-99 but as previously discussed hand values are relative in Stud. In practice it is a pair that is probably not the best one out on 3rd street but is being played for at least one (and preferable more than one) of the following reasons:
- Your cards are live
- Big kicker that is larger than the pair your opponent is representing
- Straight flush kicker e.g (6♥7♣)7♥
- Pair is in the hole which would give you hidden trips and implied odds
- Three Big Cards – Holdings such as 9QA are typically reserved for ante stealing but they can also be used to challenge tight aggressive players raising in a steal position or attacking a limper.
Further Learning
Seven Card Stud For Advanced Players by Mason Malmuth, David Sklansky, and Ray Zee (Rating 9/10) – This is a tremendous book and resource on Seven Card Stud. It was written many years ago but still highly relevant to the $75/$150 and under games that are played on the East Coast today. In particular the lengthy discussion on 3rd street play is outstanding. The only thing this book lacks is mathematics and simulations that back up some of their conclusions.
Super System I by Doyle Brunson (Rating 8/10) – Doyle and his expert collaborator, Chip Reese wrote a very insightful chapter in the original “Poker Bible”. The only real criticism is that is not very long.
How to Play Seven Card Stud
Playing 7 Card Stud Poker used to be one of the most popular forms of poker around, at least until the Texas Hold’em boom. It remains a popular and widely played variety.
Like many forms of poker, the rules are simple to learn but the technique and winning formula can take a while to get used to.
Whilst 2 of the most popular forms of poker, Texas Hold’em and Omaha, have community cards, in 7 Card Stud, all players get their own cards that only they can use. You will see 4 of 7 of your opponent’s cards during the hand so you will get a good idea of what they have.
7 Card Stud is available at most of our recommended poker sites, but you will find there are fewer people playing it than other forms, especially at off-peak hours.
7 Card Stud Rules
7 Card Stud uses one deck of 52 cards. As in other forms of poker, cards count at their respective values, whilst Aces count either high or low.
Whilst most forms of poker use ‘blinds’ to ensure there is money in the pot, 7 Card Stud uses antes. This is a small bet paid by every player in the hand before the first cards are dealt.
In order for a hand to commence, one player is designated as the dealer. A small dealer ‘button’ is placed in front of this player to represent the dealer position. Cards will be dealt with starting with the player to the left of this position. Once a hand finishes, the dealer button – and consequently all other positions – move clockwise one position around the table.
Once all players have paid the ante bet, the first cards are dealt. Starting from the player to the left of the dealer, each player is dealt 2 cards face down and 1 card face up, so all other players can view it. The 2 face-down cards are known as the hole cards, with the face-up card commonly referred to as the ‘door’ card. Overall, they are the Starting Hand.
Below is a layout of each of the cards as they are dealt with showing which are face up and which are face down.
The first of 5 betting rounds now take place. The player with the lowest ‘door’ card pays a ‘bring in’ bet, this amount depends on the stakes in play in that particular game. The action then continues from that player going clockwise around the table. The position is important in any form of poker as the later you act in a hand, the more players you will see going before you giving you a better idea of what kind of hand they have.
Players have 3 choices they can make at this point. You can ‘Call’ the current bet – place a bet equal to the largest bet previously made in the hand, in the first betting round this will be at least the value of the big blind. You can ‘Raise’ the current bet – place a larger bet than the previous highest bet, this needs to be at least double the amount. You can also choose to ‘Fold’ – discard your cards and leave the hand, meaning you cannot win the pot but don’t invest any chips either.
The Play or Action continues clockwise around the table until all players have called the highest bet or folded. As the player in the big blind position has already put a bet in, if no one has raised before action returns to them, they have the option to Check if they wish – this is effectively calling the highest bet but without putting any more chips into the pot as they have already placed an amount equal to the highest bet.
Once the betting round has been completed, another card is dealt with all remaining players face up. This is known as 4th street.
We then see the 2nd betting round which is similar to before, the only difference is that the action starts with the player displaying the highest value cards on their upturned cards. If a player shows a pair, they go first, in the event, 2 players have a pair, the highest pair goes first. If 2 players tie for the highest cards, the player who ties and is first to the left of the dealer goes first. As there is no forced bet in this round, the first player to act can check if they wish, effectively calling the current highest bet of 0 and staying in the hand without the need to bet. If another player raises, however, all players will need to place a bet equal to this amount to stay in the hand and see the next card.
Once this betting round is completed, all remaining players get dealt a 5th card face up, known as 5th street. This will give all players 2 cards face down and 3 face-up.
A further betting round now takes place, exactly the same as the last round.
A 6th card is now dealt face up to all remaining players, unsurprisingly this card is known as 6th street.
Below is an image of how an online game would look at this stage, with players having 2 face-down cards and 4 face-up.
A further betting round takes place the same as the last 2.
All remaining players now get a 7th and final card known as the 7th street or the River. This one is dealt face down. As there are only 52 cards in a pack and all players can, in theory, ask for 7 cards, a game of 7 Card Stud is limited to a maximum of 8 players. In the unlikely event that there aren’t enough cards left at this stage for all players to receive the 7th card, 1 card is dealt face up which all players can use. This is very unusual however as it will need all 8 players to remain in the hand until the end.
Once the final cards have been dealt, there is 1 final betting round the same as before. All remaining players then go to showdown to determine the winner of the hand and the pot.
The remaining player to the left of the dealer shows their hand first, the next player needs to show their hand if they can beat it if the previous hand is better, the hand can be ‘mucked’ – thrown away without other players seeing what that player had. This can be important when you are trying to get an idea of how someone plays, an important aspect of poker. Play continues around the table until all players have had the chance to show their hands.
The player with the best 5 card poker hand wins. If 2 5 card poker hands are identical, the pot is split equally. It is important that you understand the hands and their rankings, details of which can be found here if you are unsure of the strength of each, it is a good idea to learn them before playing for real money.
7 Card Stud Strategy
7 Card Stud Strategy 1: Play Hands That Have The Ability To Improve
As the name implies, 7 Card Stud is a seven-card game and therefore you should always look to play hands that have the ability to improve to a nice hand. 3 cards of the same suit, 3 in a row or a high pair are all hands where you should get involved, especially when the pair are on your downturned cards
7 Card Stud Strategy 2: Consider how many others are in the hand…
When you are playing a drawing hand, i.e. looking to hit a flush or straight, the chances of hitting are low, therefore these hands are better when a lot of players are in the hand. When you do hit, your payout will be bigger.
Similarly, if you have a high pair, you are better off with fewer players in the hand as they are more likely to win without improvement.
Strategy 3: The difference between a small pair and a large pair is huge…
If you have a small pair to start, the chances are you will need to improve in order to win the hand. Unless you get a 3rd card or a 2nd pair, you are unlikely to win with a small pair, with a larger pair, however, the chances are much higher even if you don’t improve later in the hand.
Strategy 4: Be aware and beware of ‘scare’ cards…
These are cards that make an upturned hand look good, even if it isn’t. For example, 3 cards the same suit on 3rd, 4th and 5th street can show the real possibility of a flush, if you have these yourself you have a better chance of taking down the pot even if you don’t have another card of the same suit, however, if another player displays 3 the same suit then beware as there is a good chance they could hit their flush.
Strategy 5: It is often worth the chase…
You should certainly be selective in terms of your starting hand, however, once you are in a pot it is often worth going all the way to the end as you never know what card you will hit on the river or which of your opponents will be chasing and missing.
7 Card Stud Tips
Decide on 3rd Street whether or not to stay in the hand – By this point, you will have almost half of your cards and have an idea of what kind of hand you will be going for, whether it be a Flush, Straight, Full House or less. One of the key traits in 7 Card Stud is to be selective on the starting hands you play.
Be aware of what you are up against – Always keep an eye on your opponent’s upturned cards as this gives you a very good idea of the type of hand they are after, never be afraid to fold if they look a lot stronger than you.
Steal the Antes – If you have a strong-looking set of upturned cards, even if your downturned ones don’t help a lot, you can often scare your opponents and steal the blinds by betting big on the strength of these cards. It may not sound a lot, but winning a few hands and keep the blinds can make a difference during a tournament.
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