How not to play stud

Anyone can teach you that and are happy to do so on FullTilt or another site – all day, every day. I am still on the cheap seats but I’ve watched higher tables. They are better but that is often only marginal. Too many people play too many hands consistently. At the limit tables that is lethal. It isn’t what you win; often, it is what you don’t lose. It is too easy to see a round or two of betting with nothing going for you better than the come. Throw in people not being able to throw away a good pair and you can make money.

I started on the second of the month with a $190 in a fresh account on FT. I ran it up to about $225 and in short order made it $140. Along the way I thought I played fairly solid poker. It wasn’t great poker but it was reasonable. I lost a lot of hands where all 3 down cards played to beat what I had. Not really complaining – that happens. In a few days – really it has only been that since the deposit – it is $283.25. $19 of that was bonus a payout. That is still a $140 swing from the low at mostly .25-.50. I played a bit of .50-1 and actually made less than normal on them. That represents a move of around 240 big blinds in under a week. I play sessions that aren’t super long. They are normally between 60-100 hands. I was playing longer but I think staying under 150 is best for me.

The biggest flaw I see is where the table pairs high. People with low, unpaired up cards consistently call. You are on 4^th or 5^th street with that facing you and a drawing hand. And, three or four players will do that. They do it on early streets when the pot odds don’t give you the odds to draw with what is up and they do.

People will bluff, cap, and bet every street and show down a Q-high. You need a scary board to try a bluff. I have done it and had the guy then fold on 7^th when the pot odds now let you call with almost anything. Along the way, I’ve even made a real hand. But, you need a board that promotes the play. People totally ignore that. With so many calling stations, it makes for a hard play.

I’ve had an ace up and raised from early position to try to isolate and got 6 callers. Today, I had rolled up 3’s in the blind and just anted. It got almost around the board with a number of limpers when the K up raised. I reraised and nobody folded. That was an $8+ pot. There were drops on 5^th and 6^th with one river caller. Only one person had a potential hand but never bet the board. I was the better in every street.

A bit later I made aces over in 4 and got callers right down to the river. Even after pairing the deuce on the board and an ace up. Nobody believe you. I know I’ve folded the better hand at times. It was probably the better hand but it was an easy hand to have beat. At times I have to take the pot odds offered. BTW, that made deuces full.

I see people betting hands, all the way, like 7’s over 4’s – and often winning. The average hand at stud is a set of 9’s. Yes, half the hands are below that to win. Aces up will usually take the hand. But, it isn’t a hand to reraise with. Yet that is a consistent occurrence. And it is often the case where people push with two low pair. This is truly -EV.

Stud is a very easy game to play in a decent manner. There are a lot of hands that look nice. Small connected starting hands are usually losers. And you sure shouldn’t play anything less than 10,9,8 on a regular basis and then not in a raised pot. If you have a flush draw with lower ranking of cards and there are three of your suit on the door, you fold. If the pot is raised and there are two, it is a reasonable fold. Yet these kinds of hands are to pretty looking for 90% of the players.

People chase with non-premium pairs. People call with an up door that is high but there are two others showing. But, after you’ve played a bit of stud, nothing will surprise you anymore.

Stud is a game with a lot of variance. This happens. Your opponent will often have the pot odds to chase and then connect. That was my experienced on my trip from $190 to $140. But, when the worm turns, it is a joy. I am enjoying that at the moment. Knock on wood.

BTW, I’ve found FullTilt to be the best stud site around. The rake is reasonable. The ante’s as low or lower than other spots. And the bringin is in the same category. That give one more play and the ability to wait longer than some more aggressive ante and bringin sites.

I am still a bit of a fish at stud. But, there is a progression from guppy toward shark that is satisfying. It has been a pretty easy route. I never mastered the same limits at Hold’em and spent more time trying. Of course that was early on but I still see stud as a far more straightforward game than the flop flavors at limit. Give it a go and let me know if you agree.

ADDENDUM:

I gave away a couple of stud books a few weeks back. I am wondering if the winners have given it a go. If you fellows are reading this, how about a report. If they did some good, I might do it again.

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When I registered on FullTilt as a Pokerworks affiliate, part of my reason was to play the freeroll for a seat in the Aussie tournament. (worth 5K) I made the points and went looking for the tournament. I had the requirements met but couldn’t register. Has anyone else had this problem? I did tout the tournament a few days back and am wondering if anyone else had the problem. Linda has mentioned it to the folks handling that and I’m sure it will be solved in short order. If you’ve had the problem, please leave a comment. We have until the 24^th to get this fixed but that’s getting closer.

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Last week the world blew up for Neverwin on our sister site. You can get the skinny in an article on the main page. There are some rules mentioned that sort of address the issue with a bit extra interpretation but no mention of Poker Stars policy on specific penalties. It does look like it was done as a bit of angle shooting. Angle shooters aren’t quickly barred from any game until they become obnoxious or it affects the quality of play. The first step is almost always a warning. But, Stars may have more on it than is out there too.