7 Card Stud,
Hand Selection
June 7 2008
There should be a sign at all 7-Card Stud poker tables that says just because you can play Texas Holdem it doesn’t mean you can play this game. Just because you get seven cards dealt directly to you in 7-Card Stud does not make your starting cards any less important. In fact it really makes them even more important.
For beginner 7-Card Stud players, the unwritten rule is that they should only play a hand when dealt one of the following:
- Three of a kind
- Pair
- Straight draw
- Flush draw
- Overcards
Let’s start with three of a kind. If you’re dealt three of a kind in your starters, you’re extremely lucky because the chances of it happening are 424/1. You’re definitely leading the hand right now, but still be very careful because although this hand can be a big winner, it can be an even bigger loser when you’re beat.
For a pair, you divide it into two separate categories. There are high pairs, which are 10s to aces, and there are low pairs (everything else). For high pairs, the first thing to do is scan the rest of your opponents’ up cards. If no one is showing a card higher than what you have paired, you’re likely leading. Whenever you’re in the lead with only a pair, you have to bet to keep players from drawing against you for cheap. With a low pair, again check the competition’s up cards. You’ll want to play small pairs rather conservatively, and if they don’t improve after a bet or two you’re likely beaten and should muck. No matter what pair you have, if you’ve seen the other two cards in your opponents’ up cards you should likely fold, because you have little chance to improve.
Straight and flush draws are played the same way. Again, scan the other players’ up cards; for your flush, look for cards of the same suit. If there are too many cards already dead, drawing to your flush likely isn’t worth it. Same goes for the cards needed to complete your straight. If they’re dead, your chances of making your straight are too.
Then there are overcards. This is when you’re holding cards like A-J-10 which are unsuited, and are a difficult straight draw. You should play these if no other player shows high cards, or if you’re up against a small number of players. If you do play them to Fourth Street, don’t continue unless you show immediate improvement. Chasing with big cards will usually cost you a fortune if you miss your draws.
Learn how to play
7 Card Stud in our step by step guide!
