Why- Seven card stud

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Why play Seven-cards stud?

There is one overriding reason to play seven cards stud rather than other games. It is simply that stud games tend to be very good. Why id this so? It probably has something to do with the fact that most tourists are familiar with it, and are thus more likely to sit down at a stud table. Another reason is that the large short term luck factor in this form of poker attracts the bad players, as they are able to make some pretty decent scores every now and then, even though they will go broke in the long run. Whatever the reason, seven card stud games are consistently better than any other form of poker, particularly in the bigger games. The real expert almost always can find a stud game where his winning expectation is quite high.

But the large short-term luck factor, caused mainly by the fact it is easier to draw out on the best hand than it is in a game like holdem, needs to be addressed. Most seven card stud professionals talk about the 'roller coaster ride' that they often seem to be on. Specifically, the large standard deviation inherent in this game requires a fairly large bankroll to ensure survival.

Also, keep in mind that there are two main reasons one win money at stud. The first is that some of the opponents play badly and, in extreme cases, literally give their money away. The second is that this form of poker provides numerous opportunities for the expert player to make expert plays and extract additional money from his weaker-playing opponents. It is not referring to merely bluffs. Rather, these expert plays allow to gain an extra bet here and there, or perhaps to save a bet. In addition, optimal strategy may 'save' the pot by occasionally knocking out the best hand, or the potentially best hand. The expert player does a much better job of evaluating the value of his hand than does the typical player. We shall see that many factors, besides the cards that you hold, determine how strong your hand really is.