Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Stud Hi-Lo Poker Tips

Stud Hi-Lo Poker

Often players approach Stud Hi-Lo from completely the wrong angle. They will often adopt a very Omaha Hi-Lo approach of looking to scoop both the high and low.

Obviously that would be nice in Stud Hi-Lo as well, but it isnt the best basis of your strategy. In Stud Hi-Lo it is much more important to clearly go for one or the other, and a direction that isnt getting heavy competition from your opponents.

Lets illustrate with a few examples.

AK2 - looks a theoretically attractive starting hand, whereas it isnt particularly. With 4 cards to come you'd need to hit 3 lows for a low hand, and the 2 is essentially worthless to the high hand. You are going for both high and low, but not really going for either.

234 - With everyone else looking like they are going for high - great, push the betting

AAK - With everyone else looking like they are going for low - great, push the betting

357 - With everyone else looking like they are going for low - put the breaks on, or muck the hand on 4th/5th street

KQJ - With everyone else looking like they are on high hands - put the breaks on, or muck the hand on 4th/5th street if it doesnt improve

Stud is a lot about comparisons, and there is no point getting yoursef into expensive battles for half the pot. Sure in an ideal world we'll start with A23 suited, and we will clean up on a flush and a low, but in reality the margins are made not on hope, but on being alert to the upcards to the board and playing for the half pot that isnt getting the competition.

Enjoy your Stud Hi-Lo poker, it is a great game, with often great margins for those more savvy players

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