Seven-card stud is an intricate game that requires much patience and concentration. Though it can be dispiriting at times since the best starting hand frequently gets beat, stud still offers a great deal of action that makes the game exciting and fun to play.
There are two critical decisions that you must make when playing seven-card stud. The first occurs on the first betting round, which is known as third street, and is simply whether to enter the pot. If you make this decision well, you should be able to beat most low-limit stud games — providing, that is, that the rest of your game is adequate.
The second crucial decision you must make is whether to continue playing on the third betting round, which is referred to as fifth street. This is the last opportunity you will frequently have to correctly throw away your hand. If you continue to play a hand on fifth street that you should have discarded, you easily can be trapped for three double-sized bets.
Of course, every decision you make in seven-card stud is important, and any mistake can prove to be costly. However, your ability to ascertain the best course of action on third and fifth streets is the primary factor that will determine whether you are a winner or a loser in this game.
As you will see, to become an expert at seven-card stud requires numerous poker skills, many of which are beyond the scope of this book. But the information that follows should be helpful in ensuring your success in the low-limit games.
