A Seven-Card Stud Essay:
Introduction: In seven-card stud, the size of the antes and forced bet in relation to the betting structure is one of the most important considerations of the game. This essay is intended to explore the common betting structures used in most cardrooms and how you should adapt your game to take advantage of the differences ufabet .
No variation of poker gives more weight to the game's basic
structure than seven-card stud. Unlike flop games such as Texas holdem and
Omaha, which have blinds in conjunction with the betting limit, every level of
seven-card stud level is different. In stud, the antes and forced bet change
significantly in relation to the betting structure. Therefore, a player should
be ready to make certain strategic adjustments. These adjustments are
influenced primarily by the amount of the first raise in proportion to the size
of the pot.
For this and other reasons, third-street decisions are critical
in seven- card stud. In fact, among advanced players in highly-competitive
games, a winning session may depend on your ability to exploit opponents'
mistakes on third street (prompting an improper call or fold); so much so, that
this may be the single biggest factor in determining your results, in some games.
First, is a fixed playing strategy advisable based solely on the
betting structure? While it's probably unwise to make general assumptions about
any game based on something so elementary as the betting limits, one must
nevertheless make definite adjustments that take into account the size of the
ante, the forced bet, and the size of the initial bet and raise. My comments
will be based upon a typical stud game that includes a regular mix of tight and
loose players of varying skills. Obviously, if the game is composed of many
players of one extreme or another -- different strategies would be advisable.
What structures call for tight play? What structures call for
looser play -- and therefore are conducive to entering multi-way pots with
drawing hands? What structures call for more ante steal attempts? These are
just a few of the questions we will seek to answer.
Some betting structures make it necessary to play aggressively on
third street, frequently trying to steal the pot with the first raise. This
occurs specifically in structures where the first raise is relatively low in
proportion to the size of the pot (the sum total of antes and the forced bet).
These are usually higher-limit games. By playing aggressively early in the
hand, the initial raiser wins more money when his ante steal succeeds. He also
wins more when his raise is called and his hand improves, or he catches scare
cards that may win the pot later. The downside is that monetary fluctuations
are more severe in these games.
On the other hand, some structures call for a much more
straightforward approach. Patience works best in these games. When the ante is
relatively small in proportion to the betting limit, solid players can pretty
much play it "by the book." Patience is rewarded with a steady profit
- often with much smaller bankroll swings.
Why? Because in these games, the low ante gives a skilled player
an opportunity to see more hands for less money. This is a tremendous advantage
for players who are disciplined enough to practice good starting-hand
selection. Many successful stud players that I know tend to prefer playing in
precisely these types of games, because they subject themselves to minimal
bankroll risk (lower standard deviation) combined with an expectation of steady
(although modest) winnings. In other words, they prefer structures with
positive expectation, but with less financial risk.
However, the very best stud players are able to adjust their play
in accordance with any structure. They adapt different styles suited to all
types of games. They shift gears in some instances from tight, relatively
uncreative play -- to a more wide-open aggressive style which takes advantage
their understanding, and their opponents lack thereof, about how and why
structure influences proper strategy.
Let's define what is meant by the ante and forced bet (also
called the "bring-in") in relation to the initial raise. The
following chart shows the betting structure commonly used in Atlantic City
poker rooms. I decided to examine the Atlantic City model for a few reasons.
First, I am more intimately familiar with these game conditions
since I have put in thousands of hours in Atlantic City's cardrooms since 1993
(when poker was first legalized in New Jersey's casinos). Second, there is a
higher concentration of stud action in Atlantic City than elsewhere (certainly
more than in Las Vegas or California). And finally, the common betting
structures used in Atlantic City make my general observations later in this
column more reliable (Note: In this chart, we are assuming a full-table of
eight players):
Atlantic City Seven-Card Stud Betting Structures
Limit: Ante/Forced Bet: Pot Size (P): Initial
Raise (IR): Ratio of P to IR:
$1-5 0 / 1 $1 $5 0.20
$5-10 0.5 / 2 $6 $5 1.20
$10-20 1 / 3 $11 $10 1.10
$15-30 2 / 5 $21 $15 1.38
$20-40 3 / 5 $29 $20 1.45
$25-50 3 / 5 $29 $25 1.16
$30-60 5 / 10 $50 $30 1.66
$40-80 5 / 10 $50 $40 1.25
* Ballys Park Place has a 5/5/10/15/20 game with a .50 ante, $2
bring-in, and the first raise to $7.
* * The Sands has a 5/5/10/15/15 game with a .50 ante, $2
bring-in, and the first raise to $5.
If we examine the chart above, look at the last column (Ratio of
P to IR). As the limits escalate, we see that the size of the antes and forced
bet in relation to the first bet increases -- except at $10-20, $25-50, and
$40-80. This is not just by accident. There is a very justifiable reason;
namely, that this helps to perpetuate the game by serving as an
"equalizer" of skills to some degree. Let me explain.
Poker games are optimally designed to allow an equitable mix of
skill and luck --- which will be mutually satisfactory to the majority of
players. In other words:
Good players must believe that superior skill will be rewarded
with profit, while:
Novice players must believe that on any given day, they have an
opportunity to win.
Less-skilled players may come to the poker table believing today
is their lucky day. Maybe it will be. Perhaps the novice will win, and the pro
will lose. So, with just the right mix of skill and luck, everyone is
inadvertently satisfied with the general structure, and the game flourishes.
But a disproportional amount of either too much skill or too much luck (except
at the lowest limits, perhaps -- which are more recreational in nature) can
destroy a game and its popularity.
This is one reason why there are relatively few no-limit hold'em
games spread anymore. The good players win all the money and the game dies out.
This has created similar problems for Atlantic City's $40-80 stud game, where
the ante is "too low" to sustain the game (Note: With the escalation
in stakes, the ante at $40-80 should probably be about $7-8; however, this
would require different chip denominations and would slow up the game
significantly).
Proper structure guarantees two things -- continuance and
continuity. The ideal structure encourages roughly an equal balance of skill
and luck -- which allows a random course of events to occur, giving all players
the opportunity to win. The true secret is what should be obvious: Skilled players
will still get the money. But along the way, less-skilled players will have
enough wins to sustain themselves, including an occasional "big
score" that allows and even encourages the losing player to continue
playing.
For example, a recreational player might be willing to accept
losing $5,000 a year and is prepared to play indefinitely, so long as he is not
destroyed financially. But if that same player loses a more substantial amount
in a single year, let's say $25,000 -- he might get discouraged and quit
playing altogether. So, designing a proper structure with this in mind for all
playing levels is the ideal objective.
Now, let's examine how betting structures influence game
conditions and strategy. What follows are some general observations about each
betting structure, with my thoughts tailored toward how the structure
influences strategy and general circumstances. Once again, I'm using Atlantic
City's seven-card stud games as the basis of my comments:
$1-5 (and similar low limit games, including $1-3 and $1-4) --
Stealing the ante/forced bet is meaningless here, and clearly inadvisable,
since the initial raise up to $5 wins only a single dollar (the forced bet).
There is no incentive to risk five times the pot on a steal. Therefore, this
low-limit structure encourages early multi-way action and lots of chasing.
Betting a moderate amount on third-street (perhaps $2-3) with the best hand and
hoping to get called is generally advisable in all but the loosest games.
Thereafter, one must rely on the ability to outplay opponents on later streets
to win at this level. Even that may no be possible in the long run, since the
rake is prohibitive.
$5-10 -- The first raise, if successful, returns 120 percent on
the investment (risking $5 to win $6). This makes stealing and occasional
semi-bluffing strategically correct. However, one should note that once a
player has limped-in for $2, he is all the more likely to call a raise for
"only" another $3. Play at this level is obviously more tricky than
at the previous limit. Since there is now an opportunity to "mix it
up" somewhat on third street, knowing your opponents and other fundamental
stud strategies (recommended by authors Roy West, George Percy, and so forth)
are essential.
$10-20 -- There are usually a large number of $10-20 stud games
going throughout Atlantic City. Some observers believe $10-20 poker games
(which applies to hold-em, also) are popular because the $10-20 limit is a
financial crossroads for so many players. Poker players moving up to higher
limits play at this level. So too, do players that may be struggling and are
stepping down. For this reason, you see many different skill levels at this
structure. This is the first of three structures where the P to IR ratio
actually decreases from the previous limit.
Therefore, at $10-20 tight play is generally advisable. Ante
steals must be successful more often, since the size of the pot is only 110
percent of the initial raise -- compared with $15-30, where an ante steal
returns 140 percent to the raiser. However, tight play is not always advisable.
A marginal hand where all the cards are live can usually be played for only $3
(if the pot has not been raised), since the implied odds of larger bets on
later streets promises value for a hand that has a reasonable chance to
improve.
$15-30 -- Note that the escalation in structure makes this a very
different game. The antes double (from $1 to $2) although the stakes increase
only 50 percent. At this limit, we begin to see a game of multi-level thinking.
When pots are contested, there is often heads-up play. At 15-30 and higher,
re-raising the initial raiser (and sometimes betting on the come) is often
correct, just to gain information. This is something one can almost never do
successfully in most low-limit games (since you will inevitably be called just
about every time). $20-40 -- again, as the ratio of P to IR increases, more
aggressive play is generally advised.
However, at this limit it is probably a good idea to point out
that when so many players seem to be playing aggressively -- which tends to
occur in so many $20-40 games -- it is sometimes best to play in a more
conservative style, taking a "contrarian" approach (that is, if most
players are playing tight you can loosen up -- and if most players are playing
loose you should play tighter). One successful $20-40 stud player I know points
out that since so many players are aware of the power of aggressive play -- and
less-skilled players are enticed into calling so frequently, by what seem to be
huge pots -- he often shifts gears in these games towards tighter play.
Structure influences strategy in at least one other important
way: $20-40 games use multiple red $5 chips. This makes some pots appear very
large, having the effect of making some players susceptible to making some very
loose calls. Indeed, if the game is very loose, in some cases it may be proper
to continue with long-shot draws that would otherwise be thrown away at most
other levels.
$25-50 -- This is the second instance where the Ratio or P to IR
decreases from the previous limit. I call special attention to this game
because the structure here calls for significant discussion. First, this
structure is a relatively new phenomenon in Atlantic City (this game was spread
during 1998 but is no longer common). I initially noticed this game because of
the tremendous level of interest it created among dedicated middle-limit stud
players.
For example, the waiting list for the $20-40 games would often be
modest; yet, the waiting list for the $25-50 sometimes went on for hours. Why
was this so? I believe the reason lies primarily in the lure of the game's
basic structure. Skilled stud players who are patient have a tremendous
advantage here, more so than at comparable limits. Since the ante is only $3,
skilled players have an opportunity to see more hands for less money.
Keep in mind that the ante and forced bet in $25-50 is the same
as $20-40, but the stakes are higher. Since the antes are relatively low, tight
players will not be penalized in accordance with the general escalation of
stakes for their tight play. This usually means the game will not last. It
remains to be seen how long this game will continue, since skilled players have
such a tremendous advantage (as predicted, this game fizzled out in late 1998
and has not been seen since).
$30-60 -- Since the initial pot is relatively large ($50), it is
proper to limp-in (call $10) with some very marginal hands, particularly when
there is potential to improve (A-K in the hole, for example -- when all cards
are live). However, because of the generous overlay for the initial raiser ($30
to win $50, or 166 percent) raised pots are fairly common. There is simply too
much of an incentive to steal. By consequence, this makes the initial raiser more
suspect. Oddly enough, this sometimes creates more action since the initial
raise is often not respected. Again, we see the same dynamics here as in the
$15-30 game, where there is frequent heads-up play between two aggressive
players.
$40-80 -- This is one of the more interesting games about which
to comment. However, sadly enough -- in Atlantic City, this game has all but
died out (see comments about the $25-50 which apply). Again, note that this is
the third game where the Ratio of P to IR actually decreases. Atlantic City's
structure differs so remarkably from Las Vegas that these $40-80 games are
quite simply not the same game. In Las Vegas, the ante is a whopping $10, which
makes pots initially much larger ($40 more than in Atlantic City, where the ante
is only $5).
Therefore, $40-80 games in Las Vegas tend to be looser (some
might say "wilder") because calling an initial $40 (with a realistic
chance of improving, or catching a scare card on fourth street) to win a much
larger pot is sometimes justified. Raising to $40 with the high card up -- to
win a pot nearly double the size -- is a powerful strategy. However, many other
players also know this -- which makes early re-raising and huge pots much more
common in Las Vegas.
Yet, in Atlantic City, very tight, solid, by-the-book play
usually works best. Although the stakes are the same, the ante alone makes it
one extreme versus the other. There are some exceptions, of course, but
generally playing these two games couldn't be more different (Note: I am not
familiar with the $40-80 structure in California -- but I presume it mirrors
that of Las Vegas).
CONCLUSION: When discussing strategy, there will inevitably be
some issues which cannot be resolved. But we can probably agree that mastering
seven-card stud requires a substantial degree of knowledge and experience. The
truly great stud players make strategic adjustments depending upon game
conditions. They can also maximize their advantage by first understanding, and
then adjusting to the game's basic structure.
Comments
Post a Comment