When you first start playing 7 Card Stud it will take you a while before you get “the hang” of the game. This is only natural since there are many things to consider and it is not always easy to make correct decisions. In this strategy chapter we show a basic set of principals which are intended to aid you in making the correct decisions. (Hopefully we will improve your game in a shorter amount of time). 

Starting hands

It is important to choose the right starting hands in 7 Card Stud. You must have patience to wait for the right starting hands. This also means you will be throwing away a lot of starting hands. 

Analyze the cards that are showing

In 7 Card Stud all players are dealt a certain number of cards face up.  This gives you the opportunity to look at these cards and evaluate how the cards may have helped another player and how many cards may actually help your own hand (outs). As the hand progresses and more visible cards are dealt the more information you can derive from the cards. This can be very helpful in your decision making. Some things to consider when analyzing the visible cards on the table are:

• If your holding a middle/low pair (33) it is important that a card of the same value (another 3) is not showing among your opponents cards. If there is a card showing of the same value you hand is probably not worth playing.
• If you have three cards of the same suite and there are a number of players showing the same suite your chances of obtaining the flush are reduced (fewer outs). If you are playing a 8 handed game and each players has been dealt the first three cards you don´t want to see your suite among more than two of the other players. Later in each hand you should always keep count of how many cards help your hand. Your odds might change considerably as the cards are being dealt on later rounds.
• If your holding three connected cards it is important to keep track of the cards that give you a straight. If you see a few of them in your opponents hands your number of outs are reduced and your hand might not be worth playing.

Later in the hand, when most cards are out, you will have a lot of information about your opponent’s hand. If he/she is showing four cards of the same suite or four cards to a straight chances are that he/she already has made a flush or straight. Remember though to observe your opponent carefully. Depending on how he or she acts during the entire hand he or she might still have hand that is not what it might seem to be. Calling a last bet on the end can often be right since the pot is often very large compared to the bet. (And you only have to win once in a while to make up for the lost bets). 

If you can memorize what cards have been dealt and keep up your concentration you will quickly gain an advantage at the table. If for instance all 8 players choose to see the sixth card then there are 8*4=32 cards showing which should be of great help when deriving your opponent’s possible hands.

When bets are doubled

Above we have stated the importance of choosing the right starting hands. If you have the right starting hands the forth card is usually quite easy to play. In most cases, if your opponents cards don´t look to threatening, it is usually correct to play past the forth card. However after the fifth card the bets are doubled and if you have not made a hand it is probably time to fold. If you choose to continue here you will often see all the remaining cards.  (The bets on the last two rounds are often quite small compared to the pot. Remember you often need to have a good hand to continue.)  

Raising

When playing fixed limit it is important to raise and make the other pay extra bets when you have a good hand. This will help build the pot and also protect the pot from weak hands who will try to outdraw you. At the same time its is also important to keep the pot small when you have a weak hand or are drawing. You will now want to call rather than raise. If you succeed with this strategy you will build large pots when your winning and keep them small while your drawing.   

More strategy

Please read our reading strategy on 7 Card Stud if you would like to learn more about playing 7 Card Stud. The above has hopefully given you the basics but reading a few books will quickly take you to the next level.

Good luck!

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