It is important to note that in 7 card stud a middle to low pair is much less valuable than a big pair. When a 7 card stud poker player is dealt a middle pair, automatically calling it would be a big mistake. Many new players feel that pairing any of their cards on third street means the hand is worth playing, but this simply is not true. There are a number of factors a player should take into consideration when deciding whether to play a small to mid pair in 7 card stud.
The Kicker
This is one of the most important aspects a 7 card stud players on FullTiltPoker.com should be considering. A good kicker would be one that is higher than any card being shown by any opponents. If a player’s kicker is below a king, it is not that strong.
Are the cards a player is holding live?
A hand loses value if the cards in a hand are not live. For instance, if one of a player’s pair cards is out, the hand is generally not worth playing. If two of the kicker cards are out, the hand is also not worth playing. If only one of a player kicker cards are being shown it still might be worth a play in some instances. Each card shown by an opponent that is needed by the hero reduces his percentages of having the best hand.
Game conditions
If all a player’s opponents are very aggressive, it might be less favorable to get involved with middle to low pairs. This is because a player should not be comfortable with committing a large amount of their stack with a marginal hand. A tight game means 7 card stud players can comfortably raise it up with weaker hands, knowing that a lot of the time they might be able to steal the antes around the table.
Live or Dead Draws
A stud player also has to consider how live a two card flush draw is. Additionally, a stud player should be mindful of two card straight draws, which is slightly less favorable to have than the flush cards. Even better situation would be a two card flush and straight draw. These factors make the hand more favorable to be played and often lead to more profitable and correct drawing when combined with a marginal pair.