i've only picked up stud hi/lo for the past 3 weeks, but i really enjoy it. my general strategy is to play only hands w/ a low possibility and to push my lows as hard as possible (ie. if i feel that im the only one going for the low, i like to jam the pot. and if i get there, i like to jam it, even heads up).

i got a lot of heat from this hand, i think i played it decently enough. thoughts?

PokerStars Game #3199766065: 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Limit ($2/$4) - 2005/11/30 - 03:20:39 (ET)
Table 'Caecilia'
Seat 2: pjblcmp ($106.25 in chips)
Seat 5: G316K ($89.25 in chips)
Seat 6: HERO ($214.50 in chips)
Seat 7: catluver ($75.50 in chips)
Seat 8: 4x4runner ($22.25 in chips)
pjblcmp: posts the ante $0.25
G316K: posts the ante $0.25
HERO: posts the ante $0.25
catluver: posts the ante $0.25
4x4runner: posts the ante $0.25

*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to pjblcmp [2h]
Dealt to G316K [5c]
Dealt to df813 [2s 7d 7c]
Dealt to catluver [3h]
Dealt to 4x4runner [2d]
4x4runner: brings-in low $1
pjblcmp: folds
G316K: raises $1 to $2
HERO: calls $2
catluver: folds
4x4runner: folds

*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to G316K [5c] [7s]
Dealt to df813 [2s 7d 7c] [3c]
G316K: bets $2
HERO: raises $2 to $4
G316K: raises $2 to $6
df813: calls $2

*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to G316K [5c 7s] [4h]
Dealt to HERO [2s 7d 7c 3c] [4s]
G316K: bets $4
df813: calls $4

*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to G316K [5c 7s 4h] [2c]
Dealt to HERO [2s 7d 7c 3c 4s] [5s]
df813: checks
G316K: bets $4
df813: calls $4

*** RIVER ***
Dealt to HERO [2s 7d 7c 3c 4s 5s] [6d]
df813: bets $4
G316K: calls $4

any criticism will be appreciated

Off-hand I would say that you should seriously consider folding on 5th after he 3-bets you on 4th and then catches the 4. It's going to cost you $12 to call him down and you probably need to catch two perfect cards to scoop the pot, whereas getting scooped is a very real possibility. [/code]

Fold on 3rd street. You do not want to play split 7's in a Stud Hi Lo game. Split pairs suck period other than Aces or in certain shorthand type situation where you have a good read of your opponents hands. You want to play hands with scooping potential and split 7's really doesn't have much potential unless you hit trips and in that case you won't even get much action since your door card will have paired.

I can't tell you how important it is to be selective with your starting hands in Stud Hi Lo, just sticking to good hand selection you'll crush most games, players are so horrible at this level, they'll cap their split 10's against your 3 suited babies on 3rd street.

Yes. Although I don't think it is necessarily a mistake to play this hand, it is extremely marginal with a raise in front of you. Usually the raiser will have 3 low cards, which is not great, but not horrible for you, but sometimes he will have a big pair in the hole, in which case you're not very happy at all.

Definately fold on third street. 2 of your 2's are gone, so what are you hoping to catch for the high half? Runner, runner, runner, runner, runner for a straight (ha ha ha)? That will never happen...lol

I usually like the raise on 4th to see where you are at, howeer, it was one of your 7's that came up. Either fold to the bet, or raise/fold I think, rather than raise call. You need some serious help for both high and low to come, and that just wont happen...lol

Having your kicker be dead makes your starting hand a lot weaker. I'd give serious thought to folding on third.

The raise on fourth is braindead. You caught low, so if you catch good on fifth you might have a low draw, but you don't have a low draw yet. You could very well be behind for both halves of the pot. The only time your raise is good is if your opponent has a razzy low draw with little scoop potential -- not bloody likely given that she raised 3rd and caught a connected low card.

Calling on third is not a huge mistake; calling on fourth is correct. On fifth, you've caught good enough to see a showdown.

What Jay said above is correct. Fold this piece of cheese on 3rd. You had to get incredibly lucky in this hand to be decent in either direction (which you did). Heads up, how is this worth it in a cash game? Show some patience and wait for a better spot.

Unless you have a very good, solid starting hand, the question you should always ask yourself in a stud8 game is: "Is this really a battle I want to fight? Is this the hill I want to die on?"

If the answer isn't "yes" almost immediately in your mind, think very strongly about folding.

i would go down a limit and then go back up in about a months time ~
also todd brunson did a great write up in super system 2 about 7 card stud hi lo !!!

can i also add that seven card stud online is the softest money to made !!!
so keep with it and please pm me if you have any questions