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Playing the Ace in Seven Card Stud
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Playing the Ace in Seven Card Stud
November 17th, 2009 by admin
Whether your door card in Seven Card Stud happens to be an ace or you are staring down your lucky opponent across the table that happened to get one, many things are going to go through your head, and making the right decision is critically important. Many times players think that if they have an ace as an up card, then they are in an excellent position to bluff or steal the pot. While this may be true we would like to challenge you to think a little differently:
- Is it actually a good time to bluff and steal the pot or are you simply trying to make a move because you have an ace and you think it is the right thing to do?
- Do you actually have a decent 7 Card Stud hand or a chance at making one?
- Will making a strategic move with my ace now, put me in a better position if I am still in the hand on fifth street, or will I be committed to a pot that I cannot win?
These are all important questions to ask simply because it is critical that you understand the fundamentals behind why and how you should play when your door card is an ace. You shouldn’t just play because you have the ace; you should play the way you do because whatever decisions you make are the best for that situation. Let’s look at some examples.
- Your door card is an ace, the bring in shows a four of clubs and your two other opponents are both showing nines, one of them a club the other a heart. You don’t have any help buried, but things are looking pretty promising here for you to take the pot early. Unless the bring in has something magical hidden, they are probably out once a bet comes. The other two players could have something, but the ultimate strength of their hands is crippled by the fact they each have a nine. This is a great situation to use your ace as a tool from which to take the pot early.
- Now let’s say however that your door card is an ace and again you have no help hidden. Both of your hole cards are currently on the board and a solid player with a ten of hearts showing has completed the bring in. It doesn’t take a genius here to figure out that laying down your high and mighty ace might not be a bad idea. Don’t take on great players who you think could have a hand just because you’re showing an ace. It’s okay to lay it down once in awhile.
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