Basic Strategy for 5 Card Stud Poker Games: Starting Hands & Early Play
by Bodog Poker | Aug 17 2010
Stud poker games like the 5 Card and 7 Card variants offered by Bodog are among the easiest for players that are new to poker to understand. Where you start at the beginning of the hand, pre-flop is a clear indicator of where you'll be at the showdown if you make it that far. While this can change, your hole cards are a much better indicator of whether or not you should proceed with your hand in Stud versus Holdem. You get an absolute picture of your hand and are much more likely to be able to judge others. Betting tends to be a bit more restrained in stud because of this, but the smart player can definitely profit more from ensuring that they maximize their playability. With the number of cards that are dealt being issued face-up and the amount of information you're getting from the rest, it's easy to build a decent strategy.
If you've got a good position, then you're set with a small pair but don't even bother playing if there's more than one opponent in the hand, if there's a bet ahead of you or if you don't complete a set in those first three cards. If you have two cards that are higher than the rest of the board, then it's advised that you play to the next street in the game. If you have a high door card and up card that aren't a pair, you can still push against your opponents if you sense an advantage. You could theoretically play a high unpaired, unsuited set of cards through to third street but I would recommend being very sure of your place in the game.
There are also hands that you should completely avoid when possible and thanks to how poker works, it's always possible to back out of a hand and mitigate your losses. High pairs are excellent starting hands and should be played as much as possible, but mid-and-low pairs should be discarded after Third Street if you've not made a set.
One thing that should be obvious is that you should watch the other players. If they have a low up card and they're going in on a pot, it stands to reason that they likely have a low pair featuring that card. Why else would you play with a 4 or 5 up? The possibility of a bluff on their part is an option, but bluffing is actually fairly rare in Five Card because of how difficult it is when half your cards are plainly visible and the relatively low rate of success. This also means that you shouldn't assume that a player is just trying to push you out of a hand unless it's obvious that they can beat you.
Also, don't draw just to try to get a flush or straight. Let's be honest: they're long shots in any poker game, much less in a stud game. Most hands in five-card stud are won with pairs or three of a kind. Miracles aren't likely to show up outside your door, wanting to be let into your life.
