The Worst Starting Hands in 7 Card Stud
The decision of which starting hands to play in 7-Card Stud Poker is a very important one. With 5 betting rounds and a limit betting structure it is possible to become ‘committed’ to calling bets when the pot lets large on later streets – due to very good pot-odds. What is more, deciding which starting hands to play depends on several factors, including the cards showing in opponents hands and your position in relation to the ‘bring in’.
This article looks at the worst starting hands in Seven Card Stud poker by examining a number of scenarios for how hands may develop. We start by looking at ‘junk hands’, noting that you may be forced to bring-in with these. Next we look at pairs which are lower than opponent’s up-cards. Finally 3-flush and 3-straight starting hands are looked at. The principle examined throughout this article is that the worst starting hands are not always the weakest cards – instead they are those hands with the potential to lose a large pot.
Junk hands are usually easy to spot and discard in 7-card stud poker. The worst hands are simply three low cards of different suits - 2 low and 1 high card hands come in the same category of ‘easy folds’. Many times you will be forced to bring in when holding a junk hand. In these circumstances it is important not to call a bet to see 4th street – even when the pot odds offered are large. The danger is that you will ‘improve’ to a hand which convinces you to continue, only to find out that you were drawing dead (or very thin) from 5th street onwards.
Some of the worst starting hands in Stud Poker are pairs lower than the cards your opponents are showing as their up-cards. Here you have the potential to be playing catch-up all the way through the hand. If your side-card is high then your hand is stronger, as is the case when your medium-pair is hidden.
The temptation with these hands is to call raises on 3rd and 4th street, improve to 2-small pair by 5th, and then find out only after calling all the way to 7th street that you were already beaten. Small and medium pairs have their place in 7-Card Stud, however players who habitually go to the end with them when opponents are raising will usually lose money over time.
Cards showing on 3rd street are important for all hands, for pairs this is especially the case. For example you have a pair of kings with one showing. However there is another king in an opponent’s hand. Here your chances of improving are small, however the real danger is that an opponent has the 4th king in the hole – if this opponent now improves to a concealed 2-pair such as aces-up you are in a potentially costly situation.
3-flush and 3-straight starting hands are also greatly affected by the cards showing in other player’s hands (as well as any high-card value). A high 3-flush is an excellent starting hand where no other cards of your suit are showing. However 3 or even 4 of your cards showing in opponent’s hands, combined with low suited cards in your own hand, quickly turn this into one of the worst starting hands in Seven Card Stud poker.
Starting hands with straights are affected by the cards showing in opponents hands to an even greater extent. In order to play these hands on 3rd you will need to ensure that straight cards both 1 and 2 ranks away are not showing in opponent’s hands. If you catch 4 to a straight on a later street then you will need those 2nd ranked cards to complete your hand. A raised pot, a low straight and several of your outs showing on the table turn a marginally good starting hand into an unplayable one very quickly.
To summarize, the worst starting hands in 7-Card Stud Poker are not the ‘junk hands’ which are easily folded on 3rd street. Instead you should be aware of those hands which are likely to cost many chips to play, yet can easily end up being second best. Small pairs, 3-flush and 3-straight cards all have the potential to be considered the worst starting hands in Seven Card Stud poker.
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