PLAYER STRATEGY
SEVEN-CARD STUD EIGHT OR BETTER:
T
by
PHIL HELLMUTH
The Time to Throw Away your Big Pairs
HER E IS A CERTA IN ART in knowing when to throw away your high pairs in Stud 8/b. Here, I’ll be talking about when it is right to fold your high pair of nines through kings. Although it’s very hard to throw away a pair of aces, there are times when you need to do that as well. Remember that when you’re playing a big pair (nines through kings) in Stud 8/b, you’re almost always locked into [playing for just half of the pot. It’s possible, of course, for you to scoop the pot, but you’ll almost never win the low half of the pot with a high pair (unless your other five cards make an eight low or better). For these reasons, most big pairs don’t appear on the list of premium hands. Be that as it may, learning when to fold your big pairs is something we need to examine. A dangerous time to be holding a big pair is when you’re up a g a i n s t t h r e e opponents who appear to be going low and they hit low cards on the fourth card. Even worse, if all three opponents catch low cards again on the next card, you’ll have to throw your big pair away. (When your opponents make low hands, they will be drawing for both sides of the pot, whereas you can win only the low half. Also, there’s likely to be a lot of betting and raising going on, so that you’ll have to put in a lot of big bets, hoping to win only half the pot.) It’s also a dangerous time for a big pair when one of your opponents hits a running small pair on you, as when his up cards come 5-4-4. Sometimes, he’ll have made hidden trips or two pair. Another folding situation for you is when your opponent hits four low cards in a row on you, such as 3-4-5-6. You’ll also have to fold your big pair when an opponent who has been jamming the pot hits an
ace—for instance, when the up cards come 5-6-A. This is especially dangerous when there are no other aces in sight! Let’s take a look at some examples. FOLDING A BIG PAIR TO TWO OPPONENTS WHO HAVE THREE LOW CARDS EACH UP Suppose that you have (K-8) K and your two opponents have a board of a six and a board of a five. Of course, you’ve read my book, so you jam it with your pair of kings right away in this hand. Let’s suppose that the five raised it in “three” (the first round of betting) and you reraised it in three and now the six calls two bets with. My guess, knowing nothing about the player, would be that the six has an ace in the hole. So if the six hits an ace at any point in this hand, I’d put my radar up and see how he’s acting. The next cards come down a jack for you, to give you (K-8) K-J; a four for the five for 5-4; and a five for the six, for 6-5. Now you need to check, since both low hands have hit low cards. (I’m still assuming that they both have low hands at this point.) Your hand is significantly weaker now that they’ve both hit low cards. If they both hit high cards nine and above, then you could bet out with your hand. But now the cards come down to two for you, to make (K-8) K-J-2; a three to make a 5-4-3; and a four to make 6-5-4. Now you’re pretty much done with your hand. If one of your opponents makes a low hand, you’re drawing to only half of the pot anyway. At this point in the hand, either opponent could have two pair, a straight, a made low, or a made low with a straight draw. Therefore, you shouldn’t call even one bet with your hand. It’s time to give up and fold. The good news is that you’ve lost only three small bets with this hand.
Phil Hellmuth Jr, is a 13-time World Series of Poker Champion, leading all other poker players in the world. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, and his latest book, “Deal me in,” is also widely popular. Visit philhellmuth.com to check out his clothing line, blog and exclusive gaming tips.
“SO IF THE SIX HITS AN ACE AT ANY POINT IN THIS HAND, I’D PUT MY RADAR UP AND SEE HOW HE’S ACTING.”
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