Ken Warren has written a solid, meat-and-potatoes book for the novice or less-experienced poker player who wants to learn and excel at 7-card stud and its many variations. In a little over two hundred pages "Ken Warren Teaches 7-Card Stud -- High, High-Low and Razz" provides clear and concise strategy that arms you with the basics to play stud. And with descriptions of 45 variations of the basic stud game, Warren will make sure your home games never lack for variety.
The book begins with a brief history of the game, starting back with the first ever mention in print of 7-card stud in the 1867 version of Hoyle´s Games. For some time stud was one of the more popular forms of poker, but these days it is relegated to the step-sister status behind Hold´em and Omaha. In fact, 7-card stud is rarely seen on TV, other than as one-fifth of a HORSE tournament. But with the emergence of razz and stud 8/b online and in major tournaments, learning the strategies of stud will help make you a better overall player.
After the introduction into the basics of poker, explaining the rules, common terminology and betting, Warren´s focus turns, naturally, to the starting hands. And for good reason, as Warren explains how choosing wisely what hands to play from the beginning will optimize your chances of winning, should the hand be played all the way down to seventh street. For the new player, playing only premium starting hands will help avoid pitfalls and best position you for early success.
Warren outlines the five types of strong starting hands-the premium pairs, the good drawing hands, the smaller pairs with strong kickers, split pairs and concealed pairs. Since the statistics are that, on average, you should expect to be dealt one of these hands about one-fourth of the time - the obvious advice is to avoid playing too many hands.
Unlike no limit hold´em, where bluffing is a large part of the game, the strength of your hand does matter in stud. For that reason, there is one simple mantra that the reader is urged to keep in mind: 7-card stud is a game of high cards, live cards, and big kickers. Simply put, the stud player is cautioned against playing low hands if they want to be a winner.
Warren´s advice is as useful in stud as in any game, including the game of life. When you are playing, it is crucially important not to ignore reality. You have valuable information at your disposal if you use it - so do not just focus on your hand, but look at your opponent´s. If you have a flush draw or a straight draw and you see the cards you need on the board for other players´ hands - realize you´re probably not going to make your hand.
Similarly, learn to develop the ability to read your opponent´s hand. You have the chance to watch as their hand develops, looking at their exposed cards, to make logical assumptions about what they could be playing. It seems obvious, but especially for a new player, they can easily get caught up in what they are holding and what they need, and forget that they are playing against other people. The advice is simple, but valuable - be aware.
The book takes you through every street with a variety of hands, to give you strategy for what to do under each circumstance. But one good strategy to avoid is the urge to see "just one more card." If you avoid chasing when the odds are not in your favor, you can save yourself a lot of money.
The book has a good chapter of razz, the reverse of 7-card stud, where the lowest hand wins. Again, it follows you through each street with a number of different possible hands, and walks you through the optimal strategy for each circumstance. The advice is simple and straight forward and designed to keep you from throwing good money after bad, though the chapter´s final piece of advice is a bit jarring. "Don´t play razz." After filling our heads with all the good strategy, how can we not want to try it out?
There is a chapter on 7-card stud split hi-lo and the entirely new strategies you will need to employ for this combination game. Again utilizing the per-street strategy, the book walks you through a number of different scenarios and shows you how to maximize your play. For players used to just playing for the high hand, the book stresses focusing on the "scoop" possibility of your hand and looking for situations where you are on a freeroll - where you already have half the pot and are hoping to draw to the scoop by the end.
The last two chapters are ideal for anyone wanting to set up a home game. They provide rules, procedures and etiquette for how to run a successful, and profitable, home game. And a number of different poker game variations to keep the home players on their toes and always challenged.
With the clearly organized format and visual hand examples, the book is a great introduction to these less-popular poker games. It may just make you search out the games or start your own at home.