7 Card Stud Strategy

Seven Card Stud strategy is intricate and complex but if you take the time to get a good understanding of it, you’ll be worlds ahead of the average 7 Card Stud player and will be in a great position to make a lot of money. As with most poker games, the first thing you need to learn in 7 Card Stud is how to pick the right starting hands.

One thing that makes 7 Card Stud unique is that when you are learning how to pick your starting hands, you’ll also have to learn how to judge your opponents’ cards. This is one of the few poker games in which you can see your opponents’ cards when deciding whether or not to continue on with your own hand.

7 Card Stud Starting Hands

Starting hands in 7 Card Stud can be categorized according to the type of hand you’re dealt. Some of the value in your starting hands will also be ascertained by looking at the up-cards of your opponents. A three-card spade flush, for example, is worth a lot less if you notice that every opponents’ up-card is a spade.

Trips

This is a hand in which all three of your starting cards are the same rank. These hands are extremely powerful and they can often win the entire hand without improving. The higher the trips, the better your hand. Best of all, these hands are very well hidden. If you’re dealt 3 tens, all your opponents will see is a single ten showing.

At most tables you’ll want to start betting with trips right away. Sometimes you can slowplay this hand but at most small stakes tables you can play these hands very aggressively. Only the more experienced players will suspect trips.

Big Pairs

Pairs of 10 or higher compose the second-highest group of starting hands. These hands are strong on their own and they can easily become even stronger as the hand progresses. You’ll want to play these hands aggressively because they are still susceptible to draws and other random 2-pair type hands.

Big pairs fare the best against just a single opponent but even if you do find yourself in a multi-way pot, don’t be afraid to start out raising. You will win with big pairs more than is your fair share so you want to trap as much money in the middle as you can. Even if you do occasionally run into stronger starting hands, pairs are still great hands to play hard and fast.

Three-Flushes

Three cards of the same suit is a strong starting hand but you’ll still need some help to win the hand. The strength of a three-flush is mostly dependent on two factors: how high your cards are and you opponents’ door cards.

High cards with your flush are the best because not only will they make your flush stronger than other peoples’ flushes but they also serve as a good fallback plan. If you have an Ace high flush draw but miss the flush, there’s always the chance that you pair your ace.

You’ll want to pay close attention to your opponents’ up-cards because those cards will give you an idea of how likely your flush is to complete. If you see several opponents with cards of the suit you need, you’ll know that your chances of completing the flush are lower than usual.

Three to a Straight

You can play straight draws similar to flushes and do just fine. Outside straight draws are the only draws you should ever consider chasing. Gutshot straights are much weaker because there are only 4 cards in the entire deck that can complete them.

As with flushes, you’ll want to play your straights carefully. The odds are against you to complete the draw so you should try to get in for as cheap as possible. Straights with high cards are preferred here because if you miss the straight, you’ll still have a shot at making a high pair.