There are multiple different forms of stud poker, but the most popular are five card and mainly seven-card stud. Seven card stud was originally the most popular type of poker, but was replaced by texas hold'em in the early 70's. Even though stud poker has fallen a bit in the ranks of popularity, it still often played in both live poker rooms and at online poker sites.
Seven-card stud can be played as high, or hi/lo (which means that the high hand winner splits the pot with the low hand winner); and can also be played with limit betting, or pot limit betting. Each table may have up to 8 players playing in 7-card stud, and as few as 2 players to play heads up. It is played very similar to razz poker as far as the betting and dealing of cards go.
How To Play Stud Poker
Regardless of how many players are sitting at your table, game play is still started the same. Each player will pay a small ante to start the hand and then receive two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the lowest card showing starts the betting, with an ace being considered high in this situation. After the first round of betting is done, each player still in the hand will be dealt another card face up, and the next round of betting starts on the player with the BEST hand showing. From this point on, the betting goes the same way throughout, with the 5th and 6th cards being dealt face up, and the 7th card face down with a round of betting after each card. In just high stud, the best hand takes the whole pot at the end, and in hi/lo the pot is split between the high hand and the low hand, with the best low hand being A-2-3-4-5.
Basic Stud Poker Strategy
Similar to razz poker, one of the most important things to have in stud is memory. You always need to be paying attention to what cards are and were out on the board, to accurately calculate your chances of hitting the right cards.
As with all other types of poker, one of the most important factors in stud poker is knowing which starting hands to play. The best starting hand you can possibly have is two aces in the hole, and an ace showing. The next best starting hands are pairs that are in the hole (not showing), and then pairs with one of the paired cards showing. Other strong starting hands are three suited cards, or three cards with good straight opportunities. Of course a very important part of playing stud poker is to watch which players are chasing cards, and which players have made hands. It's not always very easy to tell, but if you watch how players are betting/calling, they'll give you a lot of info as to where they stand in the hand.
In stud, it is important to watch the board to see what your chances are of hitting a card that can help your hand. If you're holding 4 cards to a straight, and need only a 9, but two of the other three 9's are already showing on the board; you aren't in a good spot to continue calling down hoping to hit your card, especially if that's the only card that can significantly improve your hand.
When playing hi/lo you always need to be sure of what you're going after, of course the best starting hand in hi/lo is A, 2, 3 all suited. You'll end up playing hi/lo similar to a combination of how you'd play razz and stud. Try to put yourself in the best spot to win either the low or high, and don't shy away from playing to just win the low hand. The same deal does go for playing for a low hand though, you need to watch the board around you and see what's out there and what you need to hit your hand; and make sure you don't get caught chasing cards for your low hand.
Important Things to Remember in Stud Poker
- Avoid chasing cards if you don't have a strong chance of hitting the card/cards that you're looking for.
- Play strong and aggressive regardless of whether you have a hand, or you're attempting to bluff.
- Don't slow play strong starting hands, make other players pay to see more cards.
- Always pay attention to the other players hands, and remember what was showing if a player folds.
- Know when to fold, if a player is showing a strong hand and is betting out hard into you when you're hand is just average; don't get strung along trying to catch cards.
- Know when to check/raise, if you have a full house but the other player is showing 3 or 4 of a suit and betting like they have a flush; don't be afraid to check to that player and re-raise them when they bet.
- If you're playing stud hi/lo, be sure to pay attention to what you have. You don't want to fold your hand because you didn't hit your high hand, and not realize that you had a very strong low hand.
Strongest Starting Hands in Stud Poker
First two cards listed are the cards dealt face down.
- A, A, A followed by any 3 of a kind
- A, A, K followed by any pair face down all the way to JJ
- A, K, A followed by any pair with one card showing from the pair all the way to JJ
- A, K, Q all suited, followed by any three connecting picture cards that are suited
- Pairs 8, 8 through 10, 10 and mid ranked suited connectors like 10, J, Q
- Top suited semi-connectors like 10, J, K or 9, J, K
Stud poker can be very profitable if you learn how to play competently and do so tight and aggressively. So hop on one of the online sites and enjoy a 7-card stud game, or 7-card stud hi/lo game!
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