Strategy For Seven-card Stud: High-low Poker
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The splitting of the pot into two halves, one for the best high hand and one for the best low, makes seven-card stud an action-packed and exciting game. An astute player can win healthy sums against loose opponents.
Though there are more ways to win at high-low stud, you must not let the increased opportunities of winning pots tempt you into looser playing habits. The same winning principles apply—enter the betting only with good starting cards, ones which hold possibilities of winning either the high or low end of the pot.
Straddling the middle with hands that hold both high and low possibilities but are mediocre in both directions is a costly and weak strategy. You can work only with the cards that you're dealt. If the hand is not strong as either a high or low hand, then the cards should be folded. Save your bets and play only with cards that can make you a winner.
Enter the betting with the same starting cards you would play in either high seven-card stud for the high pot or in Razz for the low pot. If your cards develop into potential two-way winners, that's even better. For now, though, concentrate on winning at least one way.
Here are the minimum starting cards needed to play for the low pot:
Seven-Card High-Low Stud • Minimum Low-End Starting Cards
Three card 7-high or lower
Three card 8-high containing two cards 5 or less Three card 9-high, with the two back-up cards being an ace, 2 or 3 With three promising low cards, play till fourth street, but if you don't receive a fourth low card, fold. You have to face three more betting rounds, and with heavy betting and raising, trying to catch two more low cards is an expensive proposition, especially with only half a pot as the prize. However, if other low hand possibilities haven't improved either, and it seems your hand is still a competitor for the low pot, fifth street could be worth a play.
Low hands with flush or straight possibilities, such as the 7 5 2 of hearts or 5 4 3 of mixed suits, are ideal high-low hands. They provide the double threat of taking the high and low pots, and, if the cards pan out, of winning the high-low pot outright.
Seven-Card High-Low Stud • Minimum High-End Starting Cards
Three-of-a-kind
Three-card straight flush
Three-card flush
Three-card straight
Pair of 10s or higher
Low-middle pair with ace or king kicker
Concealed pair with face card kicker
Three high cards with two-straight or flush
You can also play a concealed low pair, 7s or lower, with a low open card, 6 or lower, until fourth street. If the hand doesn't improve there, that hand should be folded. Though you'll go in with a lot of hands, you'll also be quick to fold many of them if there is no improvement on fourth street.
Three-card flushes and straights should be ditched if the fourth card isn't bought, unless fourth street position leaves you with a combination three-flush or straight and three-card 7-high low hand. In that case, take the hand to fifth street, and stay there only if you improve to a four-card low or four-card flush or straight. Otherwise, fold the hand.
Low or medium pairs that don't improve should be thrown away. With only half a pot to win, the odds don't justify playing these marginal cards. Similarly, the three high-card hand, two-straight, and two-flush hands should be thrown away if they don't improve.
The nature of high-low stud calls for more aggressive play. When you have a lock on either the high or low end of the pot, bet forcefully. You want to create big pots and make the winnings that much sweeter.
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Tags: card stud, high pot, poker
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