Playing in Tight Stud Games
In 7 card stud and poker in general, players tend to try to avoid tight games. Players mistakenly believe that tight games cannot be profitable games. This is a complete myth in 7 card stud and on average, tight games can actually be just as profitable as loose games in the long run. So next time a 7 card stud player sees a tight game being played, he should jump at the chance to sit in.
When playing a tight game, players have to adjust their play. In a tight game, the majority of the profit is going to come from stealing blinds and antes. To do this, players should start to make a lot of raises when no one else has entered the pot. If a 7 card stud player is holding one of the highest cards, this is even better because the raise becomes a credible threat. In fact, if a player is in a tight 7 card stud game and holding one of the two highest cards showing, it is actually always correct to raise the pot up when no one has voluntarily entered the pot.
If someone else is in the full tilt rake back pot with a raise, a player should also fold hands that they might play in a normal or lose game. This is because tight seven card stud opponents raising ranges are smaller by nature. For instance if a player is holding pocket tens and faces a raise with an ace or king showing, it is wise to throw this hand away the majority of the time.
Players must also slow down on a lot of hands that they might play quite strongly in normal games. This is because in these very tight 7 card stud games, an opponent’s calling range is much tighter than normal. This means that if they call two streets or they raise, they most likely have a good hand and probably a better one than the hero does. Secondly, they are more than likely going to stay in through the river with their good hand. This means that bluffing beyond fourth street is almost like throwing money away in these crazily tight games. In fact, other than ante stealing, 7 card stud players are advised not to bluff at all in a tight game simply because of the game dynamics.
Extremely tight games are harder to find on rake back sites than extremely loose ones. However, they still do occur and players must apply the concepts above in order to make sure they are maximizing their winnings. An important concept of poker is being able to adapt a player’s game depending on their opponent’s tendencies. 7 card stud players who are able to adjust to tight table conditions will have no problem profiting in even the tightest of stud tables.