Online Poker Strategy Articles

Jon Eaton

Yeah, I think I might have said something last week along the lines of 'next week in my triple draw article'' and this obviously isn't a triple draw article! Like I said, I hate trying to stick to a plan. If I force something to be written, it'll be much less enjoyable to write and read than something I write that comes from the heart.

In fact, my writing process is very short. I write, edit and have an article done in an hour or two. Sometimes I write, come back later, and edit and finish. But overall, it doesn't take any more than sixty minutes in general. I think, considering how little time I spend on writing, I do a hell of a job.

Also, I would like to say that I am not as well-rounded at Stud as our resident Stud-expert Jeff Henry. But, I have had a lot of success at this game, and love short-handed play-which is exactly what I'm going to talk about.

Stud is a game of reading the boards. It sounds simple, but it requires a real knack for knowing people. I can figure out someone's intentions at the table within a few minutes and generally play accordingly. It takes a lot of table time to do this, but once you can efficiently figure out who plays what way, short-handed Stud is a lot less a game of your cards, and a game of your opponent's board.

For instance, when I play a typical passive short-handed Stud game, I'll typically open every single time I have the highest up-card. Obviously if I have a hand that's totally hopeless, like (23)Q and no flush draws, and I've been active, I'll lay it down. If I have any sort of hope for a hand, like (J9)K, even if it's a rainbow and maybe a queen or ten are dead, this is a huge hand and I will play it fast.

You can't look at this hand like you do a typical full-table Stud hand. In a ring game, this would be an auto-muck hand if you were in early position or your cards were dead. Even if another king was behind me, or an ace behind me, if it's a short-handed table I will raise every single time with a hand of this sort.

You're playing fast and representing hands you don't have, but your opponents usually won't have much either. Let's say you raise the deuce bring-in with your (J9)K and he has (28)2. Even if he does decide to look you up, you're about 46% to win this hand, without even having a pair yet. Even if a queen and jack are dead, meaning you have one less pair draw and one less straight card, you're 43%. Combine this with the chance your opponent folds, and you can see why this is an auto-raise hand short handed.

If you have any pair, any three straight and any three flush, short-handed rules dictate you raise. Against other aggressive opponents, small three straights are less playable. If you're straight cards are all live and you have something like a live two-flush to go with it, it might be a three-bet hand against an aggressive opponent. Just don't get carried away with (45)6 rainbow, because even if you make two small pair, it could cost you a lot of money.

One thing I keep in mind is I play Stud like Hold 'Em. This is a new concept, in my opinion. There was a day when a Hold 'Em player at the Stud table meant he would get cleaned up. But most recently, Scott Fischman and Brett 'Gank' Jungblut taught Cliff 'JohnnyBax' Josephy to play Stud much like he plays Hold 'Em.

Play hands like you have a Hold 'Em hand in the hole and a flop to play off of (your board). If you treat others hands the same way, and try and deduce what they could have in the hole to play their flop the way they are playing it, you'll actually play more efficiently. This especially is true in short-handed play, when your bets don't totally coincide with your board-much like in Hold 'Em, when you raise with A K and miss the board, yet bet when the flop is 2 4 9 rainbow.

Don't get into a habit of playing from behind. If you defend your bring-in because you feel you're small pair is the best hand, it's best to take the lead. What I like to do, is say I have (45)5 and a jack raises me, is to call, and then go for a check-raise no matter what cards fall on fourth street. Remember, they're not playing a full-ring game strategy, so you shouldn't either. If you think taking the lead on fourth will win the hand right there, then do so.

Also, one last little piece of advice. Two-straights and two-flushes might not look like much, but when you're in the heat of the battle, they can help out immensely. For instance, if you start with a small pair and a live two-flush, your pair might not ever improve, but you could suddenly get a four flush. A pair and a four flush is a huge hand, especially against a single pair. You can play these hands fast. Just always keep in mind how many cards help your hand, and compare that to what your opponent likely has (or is trying to represent). If you can logically figure your hand to be a favorite, take the lead!

Good luck out there. The best place to learn Stud is probably the small-stakes games on Party Poker, where you'll definitely get some loose action.

note by gank: Jon Eaton has expanded his poker game and you should too, try playing omaha, omaha hi/low, 7 card stud, and 7 card stud hi/low. Try triple draw, lowball, and even the old five card draw. You will be surprised how your no limit holdem game will improve, such as hand reading and pot odds calculations, when you start playing other games.