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Stud Poker generally
involves a combination of "Hold Cards" (cards dealt face
down to each player), and "Up Cards" (cards dealt to each
player face up, for all to see).
Betting includes an
ante to play, and betting opened by rank at the beginning of each
round. Minimum bets may increase per round, as Dealer declares prior
to starting.
--Variations--
The following
variations mimic 7 Card Stud in that you
make your best 5-card poker hand from 7 cards. Winning hands will
be stronger with the introduction of wild cards. But remember: there
are no 6 or 7 of a kind. Poker is a 5-card game.
Here are a
few variations:
Baseball
/ "No Peek" Baseball
This one may
take a minute. Baseball, like the sport, is a game of rules. 3's
and 9's are wild, but dealer may assign a mandatory fee to the player
to make that card wild. 4's will buy you an additional card, also
for a fee.
Let's cover
Baseball first. Play follows the 7 Card Stud guidelines.
Everyone pays the ante, high hand starts the betting for each round,
fees are paid when the card is flipped, and 4's give the extra card
in the hole as a Hold card.
Hold cards
in Baseball are exempt from fees, but 4's in the Hole can't earn
that extra card since hold cards aren't exposed until the end.
Here is my
common example:
|
player
|
HOLD
Cards
|
UP
(bet)
|
2nd
(bet)
|
3rd
(bet)
|
4th
(bet)
|
RIVER
(bet)
|
|
Gus
|
6♣,
K♣
|
K♠ 4♠ 6♥ 7♣
|
4♣
3♣
|
|
Phil
|
9♣,
9♦
|
9♥
Q♥
2♦ 3♠
|
A♥
|
|
You
|
9♠,
10♣
|
J♣ 8♥
A♦ 8♣
|
7♣
|
-
Gus pairs a King
on the first round. Phil pays for his 9 to make it wild, and
is in great shape again since he has 3 wild cards from the start.
You might feel good starting with 3 cards to a straight flush
(10-J-(wild 9)), but you won't be buying this pot from Phil.
I don't like Phil.
-
2nd round gives
Gus an extra hold card for a fee, which we'll add to the river
(wild 3♣). Phil has 4 Queens. You don't like Phil either.
-
3rd round shows
Gus with a full house, K-K-(wild)-6-6. Phil's hand is still
the best. You're fishing.
-
4th round is where
everyone gets nervous. Gus has 1 wild, with one card left to
draw. You have three 8's, 4 to a straight flush. But Phil is
showing 2 wild cards already, and playing 5 Queens.
- Phil ends with 5
Aces (9-9-9-3-A). Gus plays his full house from round 3. Remember,
Gus's 4 in the hole doesn't earn an extra card as it wasn't exposed.
You catch your straight flush, but fall short to 5 Aces, the best
possible hand in wild card poker.
Winning Hands:
Wild cards in the hole
are always great to have. 4's are great cards to catch on the board,
as they give you a Hold card advantage.
With 8 wild cards in
the deck, you're likely to get at least one. With that in mind,
a simple straight or flush is not going to be enough to win.
Bluffing works best
when you have a 4 on board, as the extra Hold card gives your hand
more options than your opponents. Show a 3 or 9 with the 4 and you're
well poised to steal the pot.
Poker
Games
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