Big pair, little value

By Matt Peters
When beginners ask me what alternative they should learn, I usually tell them what they should learn seven-card stud eight or better (stud/8). Is it surprising to you? J have always found that the stud/8 was a good mix of fun and profitability.

When beginners ask me what alternative they should learn, I usually tell them what they should learn seven-card stud eight or better (stud/8). Is it surprising to you? J have always found that the stud/8 was a good mix of fun and profitability.

One of the first secrets that I share with my friends who learn the stud/8 is that the big pairs are not so good as they appear. If you can learn to sleep a pair of Kings in the third period of updates, you made a big step in your journey to become a winning player in stud/8. I'm not saying you sleep your big pairs each time, not at all. On the other hand, in many situations, the Kings are a losing hand and several players fall in love with this hand and are incapable of the bedroom.

Recently, I was discussing this game with a novice friend, trying to explain when and why a big pair should be lying down. J would transcribe you the conversation in its entirety except that:

(a) I do not want to give you all my secrets!
(b) I do not think that Card Player wants to devote 50 pages on it.

So instead, let me highlight three of the most important reasons to sleep the Kings early in the stud/8 (nine until the ladies, of course).

1. you are vulnerable against hands that your opponents in a regular part of stud could sleep.

In many situations, the Kings (or another smaller pair) will be vulnerable, that you were playing the stud/8 or regular stud 7 card. Obviously, if someone already has a pair d ACE, you are already beaten. If someone a smaller pair with a kicker as, your Kings shall not favorite. Also, if someone has 3 cards matched with an ACE, you n are not in good position not more. If somebody a "chase" (hounds cards) simply with a small pair no kicker, you are a little better positioned than in the previous cases, but this does not mean that you are except. You should wish to three of a kind or another pair to go with your Kings or you will lose against 2 small pairs as quickly as necessary to say "Ouch!"

Maybe the Kings have already lost their charm to your eyes? Let's see d other hands. N anyone with an ACE and two small cards will give you the action and it is not what you want when you have Kings. They will have several weapons at their disposal. They may be a small pair, a pair (d) ACE, two smaller pairs, a smaller straight or another hand that will give you headache. S they hit a really bad cards on the River as a 10, they will probably fold and let you win a very small pot, and you'll be happy to take it. But chances are as they hit the card that will improve their game. Once that happens, they will be in position to fight for a big pot. And if you n get no help with your Kings, their hand will be favourite.

You remember the small pair with the small kicker? It becomes much more playable at the stud/8 because it can easily become a low with 3 cards that can help. It will obviously cut in your equity and you'll be "guessing mode" s they hit their ACEs or an open pair. If an ACE falls and what they build, you can put them on an ACE or better, when in reality, they have perhaps qu a pair and a draw. Conversely, s they hit an open pair and set, you can assume what they a pair and a draw, when in reality, they have 2 pairs. In both cases, you will have a bad surprise. What is the bad new, flat and simple.

2. there is a player before you who represented an ACE on the third round of updates.

If you decide to play the Kings in this situation, you play at your own risk. You must wish that l as folds. Too often, this wish will not be granted. You will be raisé (or reraisé) by l as and so you'll be in full speculation. Is - what it has l as? A 3 as low card? A "three-flush '? He went there for a low and hit a brick? C is what you want, but s there this formidable as, you will lose much money d. What happens if l as hits a low card? Regardless of the cards at the beginning of your opponent, only a low card can l have helped, so therefore, if you insist and stay involved with your Kings, you're really stubborn! C is a difficult situation to play and it n is no reason that you do not fold your hand. Let go your Kings and wait for a better position to make money.

3. the last round of betting becomes very difficult to play with only a pair of Kings.

When you play your Kings, you are in mode gambling, and c is what is playing a pair of Kings to the stud/8. There are literally dozens of situations where you are not sure if your Kings are or the best hand. Let me give you some examples:

Whenever qu a player receives an ACE, there are opportunities as make a pair d as or better. Several players will (rightly) bet an ACE, regardless of that l as has improved their game or not and unless d have a very solid read on your opponent, you won't know if your pair of Kings is good or not.

Whenever qu a player has three small cards, it can make a small straight. In general, whenever your opponent will have made its low and as it will be in position to make his high also, it will be a terrible situation when all you have is a big pair of Kings.

N let us not forget the time when an opponent managed to pair its "doorcard. What nightmare of opportunities this creates! In the worst scenarios, he started with a split pair low and now, it has three of a kind. S he started with a pocket pair, there so now 2 pairs and you're back. Even s he was on a low draw, he now has a pair with him and c is a dangerous combination stud/8. Even if you have the strongest pair, you n are not in a very good position. S he put you caller time and hope to still have the best hand, but you have to have faith because c is perhaps all you'll have at this stage.

"But what is ACEs?" he asked.

When j finished d explain to my friend not to play big pairs in stud/8, he asked me this interesting question: "Ok, I understand point tone, but what makes ACE a much better hand? ''

You should always play a pair d as, but is this what it will give you the same trouble than the pair of Kings? Yes, she will do it, I say to you, but the difference between these two pairs is greater qu between n matter what other adjacent pair. C is true for n matter what variant of poker, but l gap between the two is even greater in the stud/8 in n matter what variation of poker. So, ask yourself why ACEs are more easily playable than the Kings. It will be a good start for discussion at the next time.