Hi guys, long time reader first time poster. Always enjoy reading FCP's insight into poker and stealing it for myself!

I'm going to Vegas in a couple of months, mainly to get drunk and for the experience but I'll be playing some poker too. I have lots of experience at NLHE and a little PLO but I've taken a serious liking to 7-card stud. Really I'm just looking for hints on how to play an ABC version of this game. I've played some online but think it would be more worthwhile to play live. With games normally being FL or PL it makes it harder to bluff opponents and of course people are more likely to draw. Anyway to maybe help you give me some advice I'll tell you what I know:

1. If you can't beat what you see, fold.

2. Legit starting hands; Good pair, Trips , 3 to a flush, 3 to a straight.

So as you can see very little.

Questions:

How long should you keep calling if you have a better draw than the player who is leading the betting?
If no-one has bet and you are last to act is it worthwhile to steal if you are showing the best hand?
Is slow-playing a big hand worthwhile?
If you don't have a legit starting hand should you fold, or is luck a bigger factor in this game?

Well guys that about covers it. Please give me your opinions and I'm sorry if my noob questions are a burden to you stud-pros.

Thanks

LJB

Hey,

Welcome to the forums.

I know nothing at all about Stud, but there are definitely a few people who do, and they'll be around soon, I assume.

- Zach

Take my preflop advice with a grain of salt because it really depends on the Ante/Small bet ratio, if your ante is small play tighter...

Here is my two cents. first your starting hands should be pairs you can play pretty small pairs as long as they are wired and none of your cards are dead. I would play nothing less than split jacks, also you should be pitching these if any of your cards are already dead. Three to a flush are good but pitch them if more than 2 of your suit is dead, three to a straight is for later when you are a better player or it is a short handed table.

I generally don't try to steal in limit, if I do it is early in the hand rather than later.

I don't ever slow play in limit.

If you don't have to a legit starting hand you know what you should do.

I am not sure what you mean about a better draw, but if you have a straight flush draw and 4 callers, keep pumping the pot.

Watch when people pair there "door card"

Thats all I got...

Thanks for that help, answers my questions clearly and throws out some donk moves I have been known to attempt!

Now I hang my head in shame as I ask what's the door card?

I'm scottish so am not too hot with some American poker jargon.

LJB

oooh I know this. The door card is the first card facing up. Someone give me a cookie!

A cookie for that man!

Much obliged pal, I can hide my ignorance now.

LJB

lol, you're gonna fit in well here.

I would refine this just a little:

Small pairs - yes if wired (in the hole), live of course, AND you have a big, live kicker.

Flush - if you have 2 face cards in your 3 flush and they are live, then you have pair outs so 2 of your suit dead is OK. If you've got just small cards, I would only play with 1 dead.

Straight - tough to play. And I would think worse short handed, not better (because it's a drawing hand). However, if the straight is 9TJ or better, take a card off if your needed cards are live. Having something like JQK is very playable if your pair cards are mostly live, your straight cards are live, and even being 2/3 suited adds a little value. 456 is no good because even if you back into 2 pair, you're probably going to lose.