Seven Card Stud (Hi/Lo)

• HOW TO PLAY
• QUALIFYING LOW HANDS FOR SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)
• PREMIUM STARTING HANDS IN SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)
• WINNING STRATEGIES – SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)

HOW TO PLAY

Unlike Hold-em and Omaha, Seven Card Stud (Hi\Lo) is a game without community cards. An ante is taken at the start of each hand, and then each player gets dealt 3 cards. The first 2 are dealt faced down (only the player can see them), and the 3rd is face up (exposed for all to see). The lowest exposed card on the table starts the betting (known as the 'bring in' or 'low card'). The rest of the players at the table decide, in turn, whether to call the 'bring in bet', raise the bet or fold. The first player to act is the first player sitting to the right of the 'bring in' (turns go clock wise).

All players who stay in the hand then receive a 4th card known as '4th street'. Another round of betting takes place. This pattern continues for '5th street' (5th card dealt) and '6th street' (6th card dealt). Like cards 3 and 4, cards 5 and 6 are dealt face up. The final card is card 7, known as 'the river'. This card is faced down (seen only by the player). So the final hand is 3 cards face down and 4 cards face up. The winner is the player that has the best 5-card poker hand (out of the 7 cards available to him/her).

After the 'bring in' bet – the player to act first is the player who’s exposed cards represent the current highest poker value. For example, if one player is showing A J after 4th street, and a second player is showing 9 9, the player with the 9-9 is first to act (he or she decides to bet or check). The pair of 9’s is of higher value then A-J. If on 5th street the A-J gets another J, and the 9-9 gets a Q, now the A-J-J will act first, being as J-J is of higher value then 9-9.

Bets are fixed bets. This means in a 3-6 game the bets are $3.00 on 3rd and 4th street and $6.00 on 5th and 6th street and the river. Raises are exactly the same. On 3rd and 4th street one can raise $3.00 and in the remaining 3 rounds of betting the raise can be as much as $6.00.

In Seven Card Stud (Hi\Lo), at the end of each hand, the pot is divided in half. The highest hand wins 50% of the pot, and the lowest hand, if there is a qualifying low, wins 50%.

A qualifying low means a player has any separate 5 cards valued 8 or smaller. Separate: pairs don’t count. A qualifying low must be 5 cards such as 2-4-6-7-8. If your 5 cards are 2-2-5-7-8 you don't have a qualifying low. SEE CHART BELOW FOR ALL QUALIFYING LOW HANDS.

QUALIFYING LOW HANDS FOR SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)

(IN ORDER FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST)

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PREMIUM STARTING HANDS IN SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)

1. Trips like (A-A) A, (K-K) K, (Q-Q) Q all the way to (2-2) 2
2. (A-A) X (X = an eight or lower)
3. (A-X) X (X = five or lower) like (Ac-4c) 5c
4. Low suited connectors like (3d-4d) 5d or (6c-7c) 8c and three flush cards with an ace, all eight and under like (As-4s) 8s
5. (A-A) X (X = a nine or higher)
6. Three unsuited wheel cards with an ace like (Ad-3c) 5s
7. Three unsuited wheel cards without an ace
8. Three suited cards with one ace, one card eight and under, and a card above a nine
9. Three cards eight and under with an ace
10. Three cards in a row like (4-5) 6 and (5-6) 7

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WINNING STRATEGIES SEVEN CARD STUD (HI\LO)

Always start by following THE HOG'S GOLDEN RULES.

The KEY to winning at this game is having the discipline to ONLY stay in the game if you have a PREMIUM STARTING HAND!!

In Stud (Hi\Lo) the whole game circles around the low. As opposed to Stud Hi, where a great three starting cards would include a pair of kings, in Hi\Lo you are much better off starting off with 3 low cards with 2 of them suited and a possible straight. Once again it is all important to remember that you are always looking to win both the high and the low.

1. I suggest being a tight opener. I ONLY open with 3 low cards that have a straight option. It is common practice to raise showing an A. This is a good move because other players never know if you have a pair of aces to start, or just 3 for a low. If an A raises and I have 3 for a low that include an 8 and no straight option, like 2-3-8. I fold.
2. Always beware of Aces if you open with a high pair. Lets say you open with K-K-J, and 2 other players are in with you showing low cards. It is fair to assume they are in on 3 low cards. If one of those players catches an A on 4th or 5th street they may have an A in the hole (as one of their low cards), now you are in trouble with your K-K. If they bet, you have to be thinking – is it only a low or is it a high? Thus, I suggest folding 5th street if all you have are the K’s and no straight or flush option.
3. When opening with a high pair, I suggest only opening if the 3rd card is suited with one of the pair or is a connector. Allowing for possibilities for straights or flushes to come along.
4. Hands to look for are 3 good cards for a low i.e., 2-3-4, A-2-5, 4-6-7. If these hands come with at least 2 of a suit I suggest raising 3rd street. Remember if you raise with 3 for a low, and hit a brick (a high card) on 4th street – FOLD if somebody bets. This is a tough rule. But it will save you a bundle over time.
5. If your opening hand is 3 low cards, and 2 of a suit, and 4th street is a high card, but a 3rd card for your flush, then I call.
6. More likely then not, when somebody buys-out another player (gets a card to put his hand in the lead), it is on the low and not the high. If you make a low in 5 cards, and you are the only player showing 3 low cards on board, bet it. If somebody bets ahead of you, raise. You are always running the risk of another low buying you out. Make him pay for it.
7. River Bets: If you can’t beat a straight, don’t bet the river into a low fisher. Even if you have 3 of a kind. A decent Hi/Lo player may call one on one looking for a low, but most likely only if he has a potential straight or flush to draw to. If you have 2 pair or 3 of a kind, and you bet the river, one of three things will happen: A) If the player you are up against missed his low – he will fold anyway (you have gained nothing by betting). B) If he hit his low he will call and you will split pot (again you have gained nothing). C) He hits his straight or flush – now you have bet and he raises you. You have lost more money.
8. If you are one on one, and you make your low on 5th street (if not fold right away, unless you have 4 for a suit, or 4 straight cards), and the player with the high bets into you, RAISE! Once you have nothing to lose – you have at least half the pot for the low – get as much money in as you can. You may make a hand on the last 2 cards and win the high too.
9. To make a low and a straight i.e., 1-2-3-4-5, 2-3-4-5-6 etc., you will ALWAYS need a 4 and a 5 in your hand. When opening, give extra credit to these cards. If an A raises and you have 4-5-8, it is not a great hand – a low to the 8, but being as it has both a 4 and a 5 I would call.
10. There are some good books available on the subject of Stud (Hi\Lo). I strongly recommend reading at least one. Check out our RECOMMENDED POKER BOOKS for our featured books on this exciting game.

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