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Ring Game Tips for 7 Card Stud
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Ring Game Tips for 7 Card Stud
March 24th, 2009 by admin
If you’re playing a lot of 7 card stud, then you’re probably playing a ton of ring games. I mean, 7 card stud tournaments do exist, but let’s face it- most stud players prefer the cash game tables. Since the game’s beginnings, stud has been played in a ring game format. The game’s top players all prefer cash games.
Playing a ring game a lot different than playing a tournament. There is no set beginning, no set end, and no raising blind levels. There is no first, second, or last place finisher in a ring game- it’s an ongoing affair. Because of the huge difference in structure, your ring game strategy needs to be a lot different from your tournament structure.
Here are a few tips to help you play a better 7 card stud ring game.
1.Be Patient.
There’s no need to rush in a ring game. This is especially important in 7 card stud. In a game like Omaha, you can get away with playing a lot of hands, since the game is all about pushing tiny edges. Stud however, is all about exploiting huge edges while you have them. Playing every hand is a recipe for disaster.
It sucks sitting around waiting for a decent hand. It sucks even more seeing people win cash while you fold all the time. You need to get used to it. You’ll win yours- when you’ve got a good hand.
Next time you’re in a stud cash game, pay close attention to the loosest players at the table. You know the kind- the ones limping in on 3rd street every hand. The ones calling all the time no matter what they have. The donks. Sure, they might be having tons of fun. As you’re watching them though, you’ll notice one thing- they all lose money in the long run.
Take a look at the tight guys. You know- the players constantly folding. The ones the loose players make fun of at the table. “You gonna play a hand or what, Jim?” They’ll play a hand, alright… When they’ve got the best of it.
These tight players always win cash in the end. Their patience pays them huge dividends. Nobody ever made any easy money, even at the poker table. It’s hard to play tight, but it’s necessary. Try it out.
2.Realize that you won’t win every hand you play.
Sometimes in 7 card stud, you’re going to be dealt an awesome starting hand. You’re going to push your edge as hard as you can on 3rd street, while you’re sure you have the best of it. The cards are going to come, and sometimes…
You’ll lose.
As they say, “that’s poker!” You have to always have it in the back of your head that nothing is a sure thing in this game. Sure, you may start a hand as an 80% favorite. That doesn’t mean you’re a lock to win. Think about what being an 80% favourite means- 80% of the time, you’ll come out a winner. People love to pretend that the other 20% doesn’t exist. They’re wrong. There’s always a chance you’ll lose a hand, no matter how good you start out.
Making peace with this fact will help you out immensely in 7 card stud ring games. Which brings us to the final tip…
3.Don’t tilt.
There will be times when your opponent stretches his luck, and wins as that 20% dog. If you get pissed off whenever this happens, you need to do one of two things:
a)Re-read tip 2, and work on your mental game. Or,
b)Quit 7 card stud, and play Bingo instead.Playing poker is easy- anybody can learn the rules, and play their cards. It’s winning that’s the hard part. That’s why so few players are long-term winners. It’s actually work. It’s just like any other job- you need to learn specific skills in order to win. Skills that not everyone knows, that not everyone can master.
The most important of these skills is knowing how to avoid tilt, knowing how to keep a cool, rational train of thought at all times. Look at players like David Sklansky, or Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. They’re top players in every single poker game they play. Do they fit the image of the new-blood, emotional, celebrity TV player?
Hell no. They look like robots when they play. That’s because in a sense, they are. Always cool, always calm, always collected.
Always winning.
Think about it, and stay cool at the tables.
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