Seven Card Stud: On Third Street

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Seven-card stud is a dying game, or so people will tell you. Don’t listen to them because most reputable card rooms will have big games of seven-card stud going. If you visit any of the big casinos in Atlantic City or Las Vegas there is usually a high-limit game going on. Sometimes even low the limits are found in card rooms. As a beginner, you should be starting at the kiddy table because the sharks are going to make you get up quicker than it took you to find your seat.

The most important decision you have to make is on third street. You have to decide if you are going to play the hand. In low-limit seven-card stud, your starting hands should be fewer. You don’t want to call with a mixed suit of cards just because there are five people in the hand. This isn’t Texas Hold ‘Em, odds are much different in stud. In stud, this very simple rule holds true and should ring in your ears: if you start weak, you will probably end up weak. That’s why it’s important to start with strong cards in stud.

Many of the following tips are predicated on a certain factor – knowing your opponent. There are times you can change the game play around because you are aware of how your opponents act. If that is the case, don’t be afraid to change up your game to trap them. Always looks at your opponent’s card at showdown and pay attention to the last card they received and where it goes. You want to know what your opponent started with because you need to learn their opening requirements.

Trips, or being rolled up, are an easy hand to play to start. This is the type of hand where you are either going to win a lot of money or lose a lot of money. Normally, you will raise with trips that are nines are lower because your hand is vulnerable. Protect your hand and limit the field. With big trips, you can play them slowly. This is a monster hand and what you normally have to worry about is a straight or a flush.

If you have a high pair on third street, you want to consider raising. You have to look at the people left to act behind you. If you have a pair of jacks and there is an ace, king and queen behind you, just call. If there are two or more cards higher than your own pair, it’s O.K. to limp here. If one of those high cards raises, fold. Do note that in lower limits just because an ace or a king limped in behind you doesn’t mean they do not have a high pair. Low limit players like to limp into the pot on third street and then ram and jam afterward.

Play middle and small pairs conservatively. The best way to have a middle pair is hidden. If you have a pair of sevens in the hole and a queen is your up card, this is a great situation because if you catch trips on fourth street, it will be harder for anyone to put you on them. When you have a middle pair, your kicker is very important. If you have those sevens but with a deuce kicker, you want to fold because if you hit your two pair by showdown the only thing you are beating is a lower two pair. It’s rare in stud that one pair is the hand that wins. Remember, if you start weak, you will probably end up weak.

Having three cards to straight is pretty, but you want to play three cards to a high straight. If you start with 2-3-4 and end up catching a pair instead of a straight card, you aren’t going to do much with a pair of fours and a three kicker. Start with at least 7-8-9 or higher. Before you throw your money in the middle look at the exposed cards. If two of your main principles are out (the cards directly on either side of your straight) or one main principle and two secondary principles, you should fold. The odds of you hitting your hand are lessened greatly.

Three cards to a flush plays the same way a straight would. You want to be a drawing to quality flush, not a baby one so that you lose all of your money to a higher flush. Also, if you call a raise from someone with a flush draw, make sure your highest card is bigger than your opponent’s pair. Otherwise if you are playing heads up against the raiser, you are a huge underdog.

Three overcards looks really pretty, but it only has potential. This plays a lot like A-K in Texas Hold ‘Em. There are certain stipulations to call with overcards. First, are you live? This means that none of your cards that would give you a pair are out. Secondly, how many people are in the pot? The more people in the hand, the worse chance you have of winning because your cards are probably dead. Three overcards are good to play with in late position.