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7 Seven Card Hi-Lo Strategy

April 8, 2009

A winning 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo Strategy is much more complex than your standard poker game strategy. Because of the way 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo often awards a split pot to two hand winners, combined with the complicated nature of Hand Development in the Low Hand, you’ll need to concentrate on several aspects of the game to apply a good 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo strategy.

For this 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo strategy, we’ll be covering some of the most important aspects of the game that will ensure minimal losses and maximum profits on the felt.

7 Card Stud Hi-Lo Strategy – Scoop the Pot

In a normal poker game, simply winning can bring in a nice profit. In 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, however, you may be winning only half of the pot, which isn’t nearly as profitable, and, in some cases, may leave you breaking even. If you want to make a worthy profit from 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, your ultimate goal should be to scoop the pot.

Scooping the pot means winning both the High and Low Hand; or winning the High Hand when there is no qualifying Low Hand at the table. Winning both High and Low hands will require an excellent hand. Something like A-2-3-4-5-*-* would be perfect, as the Straight hits the High Hand and A-2-3-4-5 is the best possible Low Hand in 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo.

Another great hand would be something like A-A-A-2-4-5-7. The last four cards don’t have to be exact, so long as they are all 8 or below without pairing. A-A-2-3-5-5-7 would be good as well, with two pair, Aces and Fives, plus the Qualifying Low Hand.

The second option – having no Qualifying Low Hand at the table – requires a very strong High Hand, of course. If you observe the board, you can easily determine that there is no Low Hand coming if all players are showing at least 3 cards of 9 or higher, or two cards 9 or higher and a pair (9-J-K, 9-Q-Q, etc.)

7 Card Stud Hi-Lo Strategy – High Hand First

Many novice 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo players simply don’t realize how valuable the High Hand is. Being dealt a good Low Starting Hand is not enough to move forward with. A hand like 2-3-5 should be Folded immediately. Why? Because it has absolutely no High Hand potential, and the chance of qualifying for the Low Hand is too slim to risk money on.

The Low Hand requires 5 cards of 8 and below with no pairs. You only have 7 cards coming. The odds are stacked against you. Yes, qualifying Low Hands do happen, but without a High Hand to work on, you are likely siphoning chips into a losing pot.

You must at least win the High Hand to ensure minimum losses and maximum profits – the key element to a 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo strategy (or any poker strategy for that matter).

7 Card Stud Hi-Lo Strategy – Door Cards Prevail

In the earliest stages of a 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo hand, the Door Card is the most influential aspect of the game. For instance, if you have a terrible hand, but an Ace in the Door Card position, you will appear very strong against your opponents – especially if they are all showing cards between 6 and J. Placing a good size bet or raise will incite a Fold from most players, allowing you to steal the Antes with a junk hand.

The same works in reverse with a bad Door Card. If your Hole Cards are great, like Pocket Queens, Kings or Aces, your 9 Door Card is a great way to keep your opponents dropping chips into the pot. They assume you are weak, giving you a perfect opportunity to control the pot. Check down from early position, Call from other positions, keeping as many players as possible in the pot.

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