Subject: Stud Hi Low From The Experts From: "Mr Magoo" Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2003 3:16 PM Message-ID: <3e67d6c3$0$930$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com> Stud hi lo as it is played in most card rooms and casinos is played 8 or better for the low. This means that in order to qualify for the low half of the pot, your low must be no "higher" than an 8 high. Straights and flushes do not disqualify you for the low. As in all split pot games, the key to this game is scooping the whole pot. [b] KEY 7 CARD STUD CONCEPT (any 7 card stud) [/b] ***SEVEN CARD STUD IS A GAME OF STRONG BOARDS AND LIVE CARDS*** What are live cards? Live cards are cards that can improve your hand. Letās say you have a pair of aces in the hole. If no other aces are out (visible in other players hands), then your aces are live. If 2 other players have aces, then your aces are dead (you can not improve to trips). What is a strong board? A strong board is one that looks powerful. For example, suppose you start with (23)4. On 4th street you hit 2. On 5th street you hit a 4. So your board looks like (xx)424. This is an extremely strong looking board as it looks like you have a very powerful 2 way hand. If you show strength with this hand, even though you currently only have two small pair, your opponent(s) will be hard pressed to keep calling you down, even with a big two pair. Let us deal strictly with limit stud 8/b cash games in this post. Remember, in stud 8/b the LOW card is the forced bring in. For purposes of these starting hands we will assume the ante is small and the bring in is reasonable. (Example-- In a $15-$30 game the ante is $1 and the bring in is $5). [b] WHAT THE HECK ARE THE KEY CARDS IN STUD HI-LO?[/B] (1) In any hi lo game that allows the ace to count for hi and lo, the ACES are extremely POWERFUL. The FIVES are very important in this game for reasons we will get into later, but rest assured, they are the second most important card in this game (and some would argue they are the most important card). (2) Any card(s)that will make the lowest straight (A2345, otherwise known as the "wheel" or a "bike"). 2's 3's and 4's are critical cards in this game. [b]WHAT THE HECK IS A GOOD STARTING HAND IN THIS GAME, AND WHY?[/b] In stud 8/b, you want to scoop pots. The key to scooping pots is to either have the best hi hand when no low qualifies, or to have a powerful 2 way hand that can win both the high and the low. The best hand for this is the wheel (A2345), which is the best low hand and an extremely strong high hand.. For beginning players in lower limit games, I would suggest only playing 2 way starting hands. For advanced players in larger games, it is ok to play strong hi only hands (provided you can lay it down when necessary). Beginners should PLAY FOR LOW WITH HANDS THAT HAVE SOME HIGH POTENTIAL. Pairs ranging from 99x - KKx should be avoided. Low pairs are playable so long as you have an ace sidecard or at the very least another key low card as your side card. (A2345) Here are some very powerful starting hands. Please be aware, other than an AA starting hand, almost every starting hand needs to improve as the hand progresses in order to win. That is why this is a game of live cards and strong boards. Basically, any hand that can make a low and a straight has a lot of potential. Making a low straight is a great hand in this game as it will most likely scoop the pot. (1) 345 is very powerful. Many players feel 345 suited is the BEST starting hand in this game. 345 consists of 3 prime low cards that are connected. If you hit a 2 or a 6 you now have a MONSTER 2 way drawing hand. (2) A23. Another powerful hand as you have three prime low cards tied up, you have three to a perfect low, three a wheel, and the A, giving you some strong high potential as well. (3) AA5. I love this hand, especially if the aces are buried (in the hole). In fact (AA)x, when x is a 2,3,4,5,6 is an extremely well-disguised hand, as you can play for the high although it appears you are playing for low, with the low potential making this a very nice potential 2 way hand. (4) A with any combination of 2,3,4,5,6,. If you have 3 prime low cards, you have a terrific starting hand, especially in multi way pots if the low cards are live. (5) 456. Another hand with a lot of potential, especially if you pick up an open ended straight draw. (6) If it is folded to you, and only you and the bring in are left in the pot, hands like (A8)8 and (77)5 become very powerful, Medium pairs like 88 and 77 and 66 with another low side card (especially the ace) play very strong heads up, as you have a decent chance of improving in either direction and a fair shot at scooping the pot. [b] CRITICAL TIPS FOR BEGINNERS [/b] If you start with a strong low hand and catch a paint card or a 9 or ten on 4th street (for example starting hand is 236 and you catch a Q) THROW THE HAND AWAY. Get out cheaply while you can. Also, do not play hands like (A2) Q, or even (A2)K. When you play hands like this, you are essentially spotting your opponents an extra card (you are playing with 6 and they are (presumably) playing with 7. Donāt do it. When you get more advanced I will teach you how to chase properly. 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