Everyone has their own favorite when it comes to playing poker. I think we can all agree that we need a plan for how we play coming into a poker game.
If you are thinking of getting into playing seven-card stud, there are a few tips that you want to keep in mind.
Top Five Tips
The top five tips for seven-card stud, whether you are a beginner or professional, are:
- Knowing When to Fold
- Aggressive Approach
- How Good Is Your Hand
- Knowing When to Stay
- Know When to Bet Properly
Know When To Fold
If you find yourself getting a three-card suit or a nice sequence of cards, you may be a little bit lucky. These are sometimes long shots, and you are probably better off folding unless most of the table has stuck around in the game.
Sometimes you may even get a collection of cards that look promising, but most of the time, they lead to nowhere, especially if you do not have a pair by your third card. You should only bet against one or two remaining players if you are already holding a high pair or better.
The Aggressive Approach
If you start by having an ace or king within the first three cards, you should stay in the game. If you have a pair of either, definitely play aggressively from the outset. The odds are more likely in your favor if you keep this particular approach in mind.
Also, if everyone around you is dropping like flies and not wanting to bet, that would be a good time to go after the pot. If you have a good hand and you really know it, then, by all means, take down whoever is left standing and be aggressive.
How Good Is Your Hand
Knowing your hand strength is key to what the field may have. For example, if you have a pair of twos, you know that a pair of threes will beat it. But what about a straight or flush? How likely is it that someone else will get these in a seven-card stud? Knowing these possibilities and hand rankings will help you out.
Know When To Stay
When your first three cards have the same suit or begin to form a sequence, then definitely stay for two more cards. If you get a card that matches either of the two scenarios, then keep it going. If not, that would be the ideal time to fold after you get the fifth card.
This plan is a safer approach for people that understand the odds in this situation. It would also help if you could know a little bit of math and odds for predicting the outcomes.
Know When To Bet Properly
Everyone has their own way of drawing someone in, bluffing, or even provoking someone to bet with them. But you always want to pay attention to the table and see how everyone else is betting before making your decision to bet.
If you happen to get a wired pair (a matching pair of the two down cards in your starting hand) could lead to a promising hand. However, it may not be best to keep if the cards visible on the table could beat it.
Final Thoughts
Seven-card stud is a favorite poker game among many out there. This game is easy to play and sometimes a little time consuming with a lot of people playing. Hopefully, with these tips, you can step up your game and maybe go home with a little more than you came with.
