4 replies to this topic

[rog]

I'm a crappy stud player. I play mostly hold'em right now (and a bit of Omaha), but want to play more stud. Anyone have a good guide to start hands? Anyone know what kind of percentages I should be seeing each street at?

[TS Clark]

rog said:

I'm a crappy stud player. I play mostly hold'em right now (and a bit of Omaha), but want to play more stud. Anyone have a good guide to start hands? Anyone know what kind of percentages I should be seeing each street at?

There really aren't as many hard and fast rules (as far as percentages and stats) for stud as I've seen for HE. Nothing like PokerTracker exists for stud, so it's harder to exactly quantify these things.If you want improve your stud game, read Reese's section of SS. It's very good.As far as starting hands -- remember Mike McDermott's advice -- "Jacks or better split, nines or better wired." Add to this three cards to a flush, three to a straight (but you need to be tight about this) -- though you must remember in stud that how live your cards are is critical. You could have three high cards to a flush to start (normally an excellent starting hand), but if there are 3-4 other cards of that suit out, your hand loses considerable value.Good luck. There are lots of horrendous stud players on-line (I've more than doubled my deposit in less than a month playing a couple of hours a day a few days a week at Party). Don't be one of them -- or, feel free to go ahead and be one if you're sitting at my table! :)Shane

[rog]

Thanks. Good starter advice. When you say 3 to a straight to start, is that no-gaps, or would you play 78T?Also, I think the thing I have the most trouble with is knowing when to stop chasing. Let's say I'm 3 to a flush, and I call one bet to see 4th. Do I need to improve to call another bet to 5th, assuming my flush is still live? Or am I committing to 2 more streets when I start playing my flush. I generally feel I need a strong draw to 2pair or better on 5th to call any bets or raises, so my strategy has been to see 5th anytime I see 4th and the action isn't insane.

[srblan]

rog said:

Thanks. Good starter advice. When you say 3 to a straight to start, is that no-gaps, or would you play 78T?Also, I think the thing I have the most trouble with is knowing when to stop chasing. Let's say I'm 3 to a flush, and I call one bet to see 4th. Do I need to improve to call another bet to 5th, assuming my flush is still live? Or am I committing to 2 more streets when I start playing my flush. I generally feel I need a strong draw to 2pair or better on 5th to call any bets or raises, so my strategy has been to see 5th anytime I see 4th and the action isn't insane.

Yes, no gaps. Roy West has what he calls a two point rule, where you assign a point to each of your dead key cards (for example, if your hand is 9TJ, your key cards are 8 and Q) and a half of a point to your secondary cards (K and 7). If you have two points or less, your draw is live. Otherwise, let the hand go. I don't go very far with an unimproved three-flush unless I have big cards (bigger than the board), a pair, or I picked up some sort of straight draw.Two pair is a very overrated hand in stud, IMO. I rarely bet it on the river against a good player. I will often look for a showdown, but I don't value bet it very aggressively because I get burned by it a lot.The "rule" about when to fold is, don't continue past 5th street with any hand that is not strong enough to see to the end. I don't always play in this manner, but more often than not I do.

[dms26]

rog said:

Thanks. Good starter advice. When you say 3 to a straight to start, is that no-gaps, or would you play 78T?Also, I think the thing I have the most trouble with is knowing when to stop chasing. Let's say I'm 3 to a flush, and I call one bet to see 4th. Do I need to improve to call another bet to 5th, assuming my flush is still live? Or am I committing to 2 more streets when I start playing my flush. I generally feel I need a strong draw to 2pair or better on 5th to call any bets or raises, so my strategy has been to see 5th anytime I see 4th and the action isn't insane.

If you start with 3 to a flush the first thing you should do is look quickly at everyones upcards. I'd fold if 3 of the suit I need is gone. But if your draw is live I'd call 1 bet but probably fold to a 2 bet unless you're in late positon and have alot of callers in front. If you don't improve by 5th dump it, don't stay in because you paired 4's. You can call one bet in 4th if a lot of blanks come in the other hands. Don't feel committed to two more streets if your draw turns bad on 4th( someone pairs a doorcard and bets strong).To continue past 5th you do need a strong draw because the bets double so it gets more costly to chase. Personally I'd fold 78T, inside straight draws in most poker games are just a bad idea, in late position I MIGHT call if I have 2 to a flush and nobody else is showing that suit and all the 9's are live.