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Lesson: 38
Getting Started in Stud-8
Jennifer Harman
December 05, 2005
Stud-8 or Better is a great game. The rules are nearly identical
to regular 7-Card Stud, but there's one key difference. At showdown,
the pot is split; half is given to the player with the best high,
and half to the player with the best low. In order to take a portion
of the pot, a low hand must have no card higher than an 8. If there
is no qualifying low, the high hand takes the entire pot.
With players aiming for both high and low hands, Stud-8 invites
a lot of action. But beginning players, even those with some 7-Card
Stud experience, often come to a Stud-8 table with a poor understanding
of what hands do well in this split-pot game.
To understand what types of hands you should play in Stud-8, you
must grasp this key concept: In Stud-8, you're looking to scoop
pots. By scoop, I mean that you want to take both the high and the
low halves of the pot. That's where you're going to make your real
profit.
The starting hands that are most likely to make you the sole winner
of a big pot contain three low suited connectors. For example, As-2s-3s
and 4h-5h-6h have great potential. They'll often make unbeatable
lows and have a flush or a straight to go along with them. So, if
you see a hand that starts with three low suited cards, look to
play it aggressively.
You should play hands with three low cards, especially those that
include an Ace. A starting hand like Ac-2d-7c may not have potential
to make a flush, but there is a good chance that you'll create a
solid low. And the Ace gives you a shot at a decent high, with something
like Aces-up. Even a hand like 4-5-7 has enough of an opportunity
to make both straights and lows to make it playable.
The major mistake that new Stud-8 players make is that they play
aggressively with hands that might serve them well in a regular
game of 7-Card Stud. For instance, a hand like T-J-Q plays well
when you only need to be concerned about creating a high hand. But
in Stud-8, this is a hand that should be mucked. With no chance
of making a low, a player could find himself chasing a draw that
would only net half the pot. Those sorts of situations will often
lead to dreadful results.
Big pairs, like Jacks, Queens and Kings, are also difficult to
play in Stud-8. A quick example will illustrate the problem big
pairs present. Say you're dealt a Queen and a 7 in the hole, and
another Queen as your up-card, giving you a pair. After the betting
on third street, two other players remain, one showing a 5, the
other a 3. This appears to be a good situation for you, as the other
two seem to be looking for lows. But then, on fourth street, the
player who had a 3 catches an Ace and you find a 9. Now you're in
a very difficult spot. The Ace might have helped your opponent's
low draw and perhaps added a straight draw to his hand. Or it might
have paired an Ace he had in the hole. It would be difficult to
know where you stand. Even if you were ahead, you need to be concerned
that your opponent will pair the Ace or hit a straight before the
end of the hand.
If you're going to play big pairs in Stud-8, proceed with caution.
Be ready to dump the hand if one or more of your opponents develop
a scary board.
The later streets in Stud-8 can be lot of fun as players try to
figure out how their opponents' hands are developing. It takes practice
and experience to become a good Stud-8 player. But if you follow
the suggestions for starting hands I discussed here, you should
be on your way to playing Stud-8 profitably.
Jennifer Harman
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