stud hi lo video strategy
Welcome to stud hi lo video, this page is all about stud hi lo strategy. Our seven stud hi lo video website is ready and able to help you with your stud hi lo game.
Before you read this page on stud hi lo strategy , I would like to refer you to two of my other websites, poker mafia, which has a lot of information on stud hi lo as well as an active forum and poker unchecked , my first book.
I've stated this many times, stud hi lo strategy requires highly skilled betting. Obviously, many of you will dismiss this game as it appears to lack some of the thrill and excitement presented by no limit holdem. However, if you like to make money, this is a very good game to play.
I keep stating playing online is not the same as playing inbrick and mortar casinos. You can believe it or not. The fact is most of you probably won't be playing online within 2 years. The turnover of players is astronomical.
But, let's get on with stud hi lo strategy. The board is the key to this game and bricks, (cards 9 through K) are basically useless cards. While big pairs may look good, they should be discarded as if they were a 2,7 in Hold'em in full ring games. We'll stick with full ring games on this stud hi lo strategy page.
You can read about starting hands on some pages of my other sites, like starting hands on the website stud 8 book, or poker mafia but here we'll go into the playing and reading of these hands. Limping and slow playing are part of stud hi lo and should be practiced. Low card starts are essential starts in this game, though in proper positions high hidden pairs can be played especially with others raising with bricks smaller than your high pair.
Proper assessment of the game is an understanding of the board. This is a rock, paper, scissors type of game and should be approached this way. In my one-on-one stud hi lo lessons I will tell you more about proper betting and recognizing/determining which way your opposition is going (the key aspect to this game).
In the small games you'll want to play tighter than in the larger ones because of the rake and ante. The online site, PokerStars has one of the best structures for standard stud hi lo strategy possible. It's a $30-$60 game with a $5.00 ante and a $10.00 bring in. A structure like this is about a good as it gets in any stud game. Making it a $6.00 ante would make it basically a perfect scenario for a player. Unfortunately, most sites don't have this type of structure and small games demand a different stud hi lo strategy due to the rake.
First we'll start with small action games. I've stated bricks are the better players' friends, provided you both catch your fair share. The best bricks to catch, if you catch any, are the 9s first and the Ks second. The 9 enables you to make straights when starting with low hands. The K enables you to make the top pair among bricks.
You can't scoop a pot on the river if you don't have high. Though this game is called eight hi lo split, it's still basically a high stud game. It's played in a different manner because winning high with low cards is the best and safest way to beat the game.
Back to the opening or bring in. Remember, the ace is the almighty card in this game and anyone opening and playing the hand in higher-level games should raise with one. In lower level games, you have a choice of raising or calling. The reason for the difference is simple - in small games, heads-up is not the preferred type of action, while in higher-level games, it is. You see the proper stud hi lo strategy is simply different. In my one-on-one stud hi lo lessons I will explain more about the differences.
In higher level action, you want players to think you're raising with AA, while in smaller level, it doesn't make that much difference. The big advantage comes when you both hit bricks. Then, even if you were going low, you play your hand like you have AA and continue all the way through the hand.
Bluffing and value betting are strong parts of this game. If you come with an A as your up card and an opponent calls and both of you catch bricks, they need to justify calling. In this case, they figure you're going low also, so they're not far behind.
If you brick the next card and they catch small, you still must bet as if you had AA. But, here's where they may put a move on you, especially in higher-level games. They raise, hoping to get a card the 'FREE CARD' the next round or perhaps have you fold. Now I didn't really say not to do this with AA, so in actuality, you may have AA and they may be trying to get a read on your holdings.
A call here shows weakness and should they catch a bad card they'll probably call you down with any low pair if you don't three bet them after the raise on 5th street. Yes, some times you get caught, but some times you really punish them.This is what stud hi lo strategy is about.
After looking at 5 cards the truth of this scenario becomes apparent. They must make a low to call for sure and most likely a pair to have a chance to win all, providing you 'blank-blank' your next two cards. You also have a chance of making a pair or a running low. However, your best bet is if they miss their low, which they are a dog to do. So if they do catch a brick in one of their next two cards, they face the dilemma of calling you down with a small pair and no low, with a board of big cards showing on your end or if they do catch low, they just have a low, with no pair. But, be sure to analyze the A situation for the size of your bricks can come into play if they do make their low.
With action like this calling only with small pairs is not recommended. You will also gain insight into your opponent's playing abilities and you can adjust to accommodate him later on.
The same goes for other hands you open with. If you're first to open (does not mean 1st always, but those before you have passed), look at the board, and if you have one of the playing hands I have described, raise. What I want you to realize is that, depending upon the level, you may have a double-edged sword since two styles should be used when playing this game. In smaller levels the rake is very strong for heads-up play split pot action. Yet in reality, if you're not playing this way, you're not playing top class stud hi lo strategy. But if you are playing top class stud hi lo strategy, you're costing yourself money because of the rake.
Hi Lo Stud is by definition an implied partnership game. You don't need the best hand to raise and place others in the middle. Consider a case where your chances of winning are 40% and the other players' are 50% and 10%. Often these situations are so blatant they can be seen by a seeing-eye dog. Then again, many times they're not.
Remember, if you have no bricks, you're usually ahead of the guy who has one. These are prime situations to put weaker hands into jamming situations. At times you may think you're second best, but you may be wrong. You could have the best. Players observe this and reciprocate with similar action in similar situations. Playing well doesn't mean you must have the best hand all the time to raise. It means you must have a good percentage of the odds and punish those with small draws to get higher volume. At times better players may look like they are 'playing partners', when in reality, each is independent. They're just playing the game well.
Stay tuned for more on stud hi lo strategy.....
Russ G.
stud hi lo video lessons
stud hi lo lessons are available on demand any time of the day. Our site, stud hi lo video has it's aim to explain the game of stud hi lo and to teach players how to master one of the most intriguing forms of poker.
Other sources of excellent information on stud hi lo are poker mafia and the book will which appear at the end of april 2008 poker unchecked by Russ Georgiev
Note: This site is all about stud hi lo and the availability of video lessons. We provide you with the nuts in terms of quality stud hi lo strategy. Our stud hi lo video will make you a winner if you pay attention.