7-Card Stud Poker Tips: Three to a Straight

7 Card Stud, Hand Selection
October 1 2008

When you are dealt three cards to a straight right away in a hand of 7-Card Stud, it can often be a profitable hand. However, if played incorrectly or over-bet, it can take a big bite out of your stack if luck doesn’t come your way.

To determine your next play when dealt three to a straight, you must ask yourself a number of questions and of course be truthful with the answers.

First off, how high are your cards? It may not mean much if your three cards are 4-5-6. Even if you complete a straight with this hand, it can still be easily beaten in a game like 7-Card Stud. And what happens with this hand if you don’t make your straight? Making a pair with a four or five isn’t going to cut it.

The next question you have to address is how many of your outs are alive? In our previous example of 4-5-6, you would need a 2 and a 3, a 3 and a 7, or a 7 and an 8 to make a straight. If a few 3s or 7s are showing already, your straight may not be worth going after.

Everything else depends on the rest of the table. How aggressive has the betting been so far? Do the odds tell you to call or fold your draw? What are your opponents showing? If there are some powerful hands already out there, trying to outdraw them usually isn’t a good idea.

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