Starting Hands

[murphyz 0]

I've just started playing 7-card after watching a bit of coverage from the '04 WSOP and think it's a game I want to continue with - after managing to double my money playing last night.Still getting into the game, obviously, but I was wondering what kind of hands are considered the best? It seems that most of the people at my table were only really playing when they had been dealt high cards or a pair, whereas I was going in with flush and straight draws which hit a few times and missed many*...still, it seemed to make more sense than hoping just to get 2 pair or fluke a full house.Which hands are considered to be 'strong' starting hands?CheersMxx*I tended to fold my flush draws on 4th or 5th if I saw too many of my suit on the board and it looked less likely I would make it.

[Eskimo 0]

2 pair usually wins the pot for me. I really wouldn't bother with a pair. I would definitely play flush and straight draws, but use pot odds; chasing straights and flushed isn't the best thing to do.

[jayboogie 0]

if you can't let go of 2 pair, you'll lose a lotta money, it's not a strong hand in Stud at a full table. Unless you have Ace's over or KIng's over, I usually won't bother. Stud requires memory, you need to remember the cards showing and the cards players folded in order to calculate pot odds. If your not doing this, your also going to lose a lot of money drawing at a flush, when you only have 2 or 3 outs in the whole deck.A good starting hand is probably anything along the lines of 10JQ and combinations like this. Preferably suited. A buried pocket pair(none are showing), a split pair 10's and higher, suited connectors if there are not more than 3 of the same suit showing. These are just some general guidelines I guess.

[Frank Guest 0]

When dealing with full-table casino style Stud game, tight play is essential. The only way to win this game in the long-run is to buckle-down and play tight poker. One of the first transitional steps that a Hold'em player must make when going over to Stud is to not over-valuate hands such as AK-T, or AQ-9.Those these hands can and should be played when the situation is right, you simply cannot over-value these hands and should not be played all the time. A hand like 78-7 is a much stronger hand than AK-T in Stud, where obviously an AK is much stronger in Hold'em than a 78.A good quick strategy guide to Stud can come right out of Mike McDermott's mouth from 'Rounders': Jacks or better split, Nines or better wired. Play Premium pairs, high three-suited cards, and suited three connectors in certain situations.A good book out there is for 7-card stud strategy is by the author Ashley Adams right out of Boston. He is easily the best 7-stud player i have ever played with and if your serious about Stud, his book is a great first step.http://frankiepoker.blogspot.com/