I'd like this to be a thread for discussing optimal low limit stud strategy in casinos. Specifically I am talking about 1-5 or 5-10 stud. Please let me know your thoughts on my strategy and if you see any leaks let me know.

Opponents in these limits tend to be 50+ years old, like to bring it in for $1 and don't raise even with wired kings until 4th street. They will call you all the way down unless your board is ultra scary like Ad Kd Qd Jd or Q Q Q Q.

Starting hands:

I like to play any concealed pair (such as [44]T). You can try to hit your set on 4th street, it seems like the implied odds are there (especially in the 1-5 game, for $1 you can see 4th street). If you don't make the set or have any kind of draw by fourth, dump it to any kind of action.

Split pairs, I like playing Jacks or better (eg: [J2] J). Whenever I have split jacks, queens or kings, I feel it necessary to raise when an opponent starts out with a higher card. Is this correct strategy? Should you always raise with split pairs like these?

Raise 3 high cards to a straight? 3 high cards to a flush?

Are you calling a raise on 3rd street with 3 random cards to a flush when your draw seems extra live (not many of your suit out there)?

rolled up hands: i usually dont raise with these and wait until 5th and go with the "run it and gun it approach"

Action 5th street and thereafter:

you hold
[J J] 4 K
opponents have
x x Q 7
x x 4 5

reads: these guys play way too many hands, get irritated when you raise 3rd street, and think 2 pair is the nuts

hero raised 3rd street to $5. you get 2 callers. At this point on 4th street, do you lead out with a bet of $5 again?

say you lead out with a bet, got 2 calls, and this is 5th:

[J J ] 4 K 9
xx Q 7 7
xx 4 5 8

op1 bets out, what do you do?


Some feedback on little things that you do in live games, any bit of advice would be appreciated. I'll post more thoughts later.

Chief

Just a few comments from me. I feel that you should usually only play small concealed pairs (4 4 ) if your kicker is higher than any other door cards remaining.

for example, if I have (3 3 ) J , and there is a K and a Q showing behind me, I fold because even if you do pair your Jack, you could lose a lot of money trying to chase someone with Kings or Queens up (two pair) However, if in the same situation i have an Ace as my door card, I at least call, maybe raise because you have two ways to have the likely best hand, by catching the 3, which is a great concealed hand, or by pairing your ace, which forces someone to make trips to beat you. Either way, you have a powerful hand.

You also mention something about raising with three to a flush. First,make sure not too many of the suit are out. If three or more are already gone, fold fold fold. Next, determine if making your flush is the only hand that you are trying to chase. For me, I only play three to a flush if two of the cards are ten or higher or the three suited cards could connect together to make a straight/ straight flush. If you have high suited cards, you could catch a high pair and likely have the best hand, as well as catching a fourth suited card and having good pot odds to chase the flush. If you have connecting suited cards, you can either catch a suited card or a straight card, again giving you two ways to win the hand. Otherwise, you are forced to catch some suited cards quick, which doesn't happen as often as a lot of people think. Chasing any three card flush draw too far is a good way to lose a lot of money in stud.


With split pairs, always raise if your door card is highest, even if there are some of your cards out. If you have split jacks with an ace and a king left to act, you might still raise, but be ready to let them go if you get reraised, depending on your kicker. If you have a higher kicker than their door card, you still have a good hand. IF your kicker is a five or something, your hand isn't really that strong.


All of these things are obviously read and board dependent, nothing is set in stone. Be sure to read your opponents board well, do not act solely based upon your hand, but on your opponents boards and betting patterns.

I like to play 1-5 stud like it's 5-5 stud. If I'm going to play a hand, it's going to be 5 to go at the table.

I find that the implied odds aren't really there with small pairs. Like you said, most of the people won't raise at all and if they bet it stays low. If they bet the max, you've got problems. So, paying to see 4th street with something like 3-3-J doesn't pay off enough. Wait for the primo hands and don't get cute. Those dollars you dump on 4th street will add up. Especially since most of the time you won't get paid off for hitting trips, anyway.

I find that a lot of the money I make at the 1-5 stud tables is from people getting caught with something like 3-J-3. I start with the highest pair showing, Queens or Kings, and they catch a Jack on 4th or 5th street. They've now got 2 pair they can't get away from and I've got them dominated. Now, even if I raise they'll stay in. Their rationale is always the same, too. "My cards were live. I could've filled up."

I don't usually do the 5-5 thing. I'll usually bet 3 before the river if I have a big pair (or 2 pair) and the lead. Then I bet 5 on the river whether I improve or not. It's amazing how often they'll give you credit for the second pair and fold better hands. If you always bet 5, you take away bluffing. They're more likely to call you down if you bet 5 all the way than if you increase your bet on the river.

If you want the lead in a hand, just raise it once. They won't bet into you again. "Check to the raiser" is a common mantra.

Most of the people play very straight forward. It's pretty easy to put them on a hand and get away from your own hand if you're beat. Wait for solid hands and bluff every now and then based on your read of how strong they are.

Trust me. Play 5-5 stud and you'll be taking people's social security checks.

remember this?
$1-5 stud high at Turning Stone.

Villain: Voted for Eisenhower, chases with 3 straight or 3 flush, or just high cards until 6th (calling $5 bets all the way), annoyed at me.

Me: Check-raising up a storm all night long (how unethical).

3rd I raise with (10 J) 10 against his 7 showing to $5, he calls along with a few others.

4th, I bet $5, only he calls

5th He shows (xx)7 x 7. I am still unimproved I bet before I notice his door card paired by accident. He says, fine, I check, you can bet. I bet out $5 planning on folding to a check-raise. He just calls.

6th: He gets board trips: xx7x77. I get (10 J) 10 x x J. He looks down at his hand and says, loudly, I CHECK. It's his biggest trap of the night - he's got twigs and leaves over the hole. But, I cleverly dodge it by checking behind.

7th: I get a Jack for Jacks full. He now grins and says, I bet $5. I immediately raise to $10. He looks a bit confused, but thinks I've just fallen into his board trips trap. He reraises me to $15, I say, this is the easiest cap of my night .. he calls with 7's full. His head explodes.

$1-$5 hi/lo at turning stone was the r0x0rs.

aseem