Selecting Good Starting Hands for 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo

7 Card Stud Hi Lo, Stud Games
June 15 2008

Let’s not pull any punches: Most 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo players play the game wrong. We’re not referring to chasing bad draws, or making bad bets or missing the finer points of the game. We’re talking about how many players have no problem going after half the pot.

Hi/Lo poker games are different because the pot is split among the high and the low hands at the table. If you’re playing 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, you should try to limit your starting cards to hands that give you a chance to scoop the pot (take it all), and not just win a half. By winning half the pot you’re basically winning pennies, instead of taking down a lot of chips when you scoop the pot.

To make a run at scooping the pot, your starting cards must have the ability to draw both winning high and low hands. Figuring out what are good drawing cards to win the high pot is pretty easy. Hands with flush and straight possibilities and high pairs fit into that group. However, to make these same hands a possible low-hand winner, you need to have some low-hand drawing possibilities.

Hands that fit both criteria include three cards of the same suit with all of the cards being valued 8 or less. This is also known as a 3-low flush starter. A 3-low straight is also a great starter which gives you a shot at scooping the pot.

Remember, since an ace plays as both a low and a high card, this gives it special properties when considering your starters. This means a starting hand like two aces and another low-card kicker has the potential to be a winner that could scoop the pot.

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