stud 8 lessons
Welcome to stud 8, this page is all about frequently asked questions. Our stud 8 is ready and able to help you with your pokergame. Russ Georgiev is available for lessons any time of the day.
frequently asked questions for stud eight or better
Q 1. You advocate going for the low and hoping to backdoor into a high. Does this mean that you do not play big pairs at all in stud 8 , even if your pair is higher than any upcard?
A 1. In higher stud 8, you must play big pairs at times. Hidden pairs with a low up card are far better as they are deceptive. However, in multiway pots, these and all big pairs should be discarded. The better players will jam high starting hands to force them to call multiple bets or capped bets with only one way of winning, that being high and only half the pot. In low level hi lo split, if you never played a big pair you'd be better off in the long run, no matter what. Obviously, boards and situation will occur in stud 8 where you can play big pairs, big pairs in the hole and even raise with them. This is best when your down to a very small field possibility, such as three players at most.
Q 2. What about shorthanded (4 player max)? Is it not better to play many high hands and throw away most low hands like 752/753/632 and only playing high quality lows?
A 2. Very good question. Realize, there is more stealing in higher levels with a larger ante so many times it's beneficial to call with weaker low starting hands, especially if the pot isn't raised. Most players don't realize the following, 6 low cards beat any pair without a low. It's strategy many should look into.
This question is answered in the first book by Russ Georgiev , called poker unchecked. It will be available at numerous websites before the end of April 2008. Other sites selling the book will include e.g., poker mafia , russ georgiev , 7 card stud video and numerous other sites.
Q 3. Suppose you do start with (Kx)K and your opponent starts with a small up card but catches an ace on the turn.What to do?
A 3. If you gave me more information, the question would be easier to answer. However, Russ Georgiev answers them all. Did you raise preflop and get a call? If you did, I advise throwing the hand away and losing a single unit. Good stud 8 betting, good stud 8 strategy.
Q 4. Would it be bad if you would always throw your kings away here, because of the combined possibility of your opponent having aces already, catching it later or having a strong low hand? What if there also was 1 more player with 2 low cards showing on the turn?
A 4. Throw the hand away and lose one unit. If the hand started with multiple players, you shouldn't have even started the pot.
Q 5. 3 rd street: suppose someone with a queen raises and you have kings, but 5 low upcards to act behind you, what would you do?
A 5. Use your instinct here. Is the player who raised with a Queen up a bad player? If he is, reraise and hope you narrow the field to heads-up or three. If he's a decent player, throw the hand away as he's probably rolled up or has AA in the hole.
Q 6. You have two big pair on fifth street against two opponents with three small cards showing, do you jam here or wait to see what sixth street brings?
A 6. Again, not enough information. First a question, why are you in this position, since I advocate not playing big pairs in multiple way pots? More on the answer: look to see if possible low straights are possible. Look at the differential between the low hands. Reality dictates there's no reason to raise, but you may wish to do so upon how the betting goes. I would bet the hand and hope I wasn't raised. Depending on the position of the player and their hands, you can get a good read on their holdings. Just good stud 8 betting and good stud 8 strategy dictates the play here.
Q 7. Is there are a lot of cheating in this game?
A 7. In the higher levels of this game, levels of $75-$150 you can bet your life there's a lot of cheating going on. While many players may state you're getting 2-1 on your money, it's odds on the cheats are going in different directions, meaning hi and low. This forces you to make a big hand, small straight or flush with a low. While you may think you're getting 2-1, the opposite is true. You are getting 1-2 and they control the raising. Cheaters in high level games are usually excellent players and if they read a card gave you half/or possibly half the pot, the raising will stop. Split games are among the best games to collude in.
Q 8. What way do people cheat in this game?
A 8. Team play is number one by a long way. Then math plays an important role, as the cheats play the top hands against you and keep the action to a minimum from the start unless having a big edge. Since stud 8 strategy dictates this is a partnership game by definition, (high hand and low hands are supposed to put the weak hand/hands in the middle, good stud 8 strategy) you will face multiple raises to call with weak hands. The best scammers don't apply pressure until they are almost sure one way is locked up. Other ways of cheating aren't worth mentioning, unless they're marked cards.
Q.9 Are good Stud 8 players also good Omaha eight players?
A 9. Stud 8 strategy is based on a stud betting concept, while Omaha eight players are using a community card strategy with two large bets instead of three as in stud. Some of the players are excellent in both, while some are clueless in one of the games. Generally, stud players have a big edge over flop game players.
Q 10. Why are not more players interested in playing this action game?
A 10. It's only action when the players are bad, just as all other games. Besides, this game takes more brains that most limit games and it's difficult for weak players to win. One positive for the game, many weak players think more hands are playable, so the games appear to have action. However, when the weak players are consistently isolated, the game gets tight.
Q 11. I have been in places where people only want to raise when they have a lock either way, but never on a draw or with what looks like the second best low draw, so I can never jam with them, unless I take the worst of it. Does this mean this is a bad game which is very boring and I should not play? In Los Angeles everybody played this game very aggressive and that made the games good and fun, but I cannot win in those places where it is bet call call on every round and the pots never get big.
A 11. Basically this is a bad stud 8 strategy and bad stud 8 betting from those involved in playing this style. However, don't compound their bad stud 8 betting with a bad stud 8 strategy of your own. Because no one raises, doesn't mean you can't. In this case, good stud 8 strategy dictates you analyze the situation and take the worst of it against one player while more than making up for it with the other players in the pot. An example would be where player A has a 50% chance of winning half, while you have about a 38% of winning half. This leaves the other two players with 12% of winning half. While you can lose equity on one player, you can make it up on the others.
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More theory and strategy articles and info by Russ Georgiev can be found at poker unchecked , poker mafia , Russ Georgiev and several other sites.
You can contact him as well for one-on-one lessons by skype or by phone.
In the first book by Russ Georgiev, called poker unchecked you will get solid entry level and beyond stud eight lessons and information.
Before long, stud 8 and all it's links will provide the best information available in the world of poker.
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