7 Card Stud is a poker game that is played with seven cards per hand, with five cards being chosen from the hand that you are dealt. You will need to know which card combos are winners to play this game successfully, as well as being able to read other players to figure out whether you have the best hand or not. These tips can help to decide whether your hand is worth betting on, and which cards you should choose for your five out of the seven that you are dealt.

High Hands

Unlike some other poker games, in 7 Card Stud the highest card that you can have is the ace. If you have more than one ace, then this pair should definitely be in the five that you choose to play. It is important to know that, most of the time, the highest hand wins in this poker game. Two or three aces may be enough for you to bet on, but there are also several combination's that can beat one pair of aces. Obviously, if you have all four aces, then your chances of winning are awesome, and this combo should be the one that you choose for your hand.

Another high hand in 7 Card Stud is the straight, which includes cards from the ace to the ten. If you only have three or four of these cards, then you will want to consider holding off on betting to see how the other players are going to bet. Without all five cards, you will not be able to win the hand unless you know how to bluff really well, and the other players are not sure of their own winning hands.

Low Hands

If you have a pair of twos, or a low straight that runs from a two to a six, then you will want to ride the hand out to see what else is going on in the game, especially if you just have a pair. At best, a low hand will end up splitting the pot with the high hand in 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, unless everyone else that has bet has a poor hand. If you want to make a hand using a low pair, such as a pair of sixes, then you will want to wait until the fourth or fifth street has been dealt to find out whether or not you have a hand.

If you happen to have a pair of face cards, then you will want to play the hand with enthusiasm. For example, if you have a pair of kings, then you will want to bet on them, and make sure that you choose them for your hand of five. If you have competitors with low hands, then you will want to make sure that you outbet these competitors early in the game for an excellent chance of winning.

Watch Out For...

There are some cards that are going to harm your chances of winning more than they can help them. It is important to know that your low hands have to contain cards below eight, and the high hands should use the cards ten and up. If you have a hand with an eight in it, then you will want to make sure that you have something else to bet on, such as a pair or three cards below eight or above ten. Pairs of nines or tens are not a god playing hand, so make sure that you avoid these hands as much as possible.

Also, if you have cards that are unmatched in suit or do not make a straight, then you will want to fold or at least check to see how the other players are going to bet before you put your money into the pot. Once you have some experience with the game, then you will be able to watch the other players to help you know what you want to bet on. Watching the table to see what has been played will also help you decide whether to bet or not, and making sure that you check when the opportunity arises can also help you.