Malmuth Card Player Stud Quiz #1

From August 31 Card Player Mag.

Please help a beginner sort through the logic:

Question 15: 3 way action: 1)J5J 2)K4K 3)7A7. No player has suited cards. Approx results: 42% for the Kings; 26% for the Jacks; 32% for the Sevens. Action as follows: Jacks raise. Kings re-raise. Your hand is live(no 7's or A's out). Malmuth recommends "jumping the fence" and getting in there.

Why is this the correct move? The odds are not with you. Head's up the 7A7 hand increases to 42%, but is still not the favorite. If you know you don't have the best of it from the start, why play it? Especialy short handed? Especially cold for 2 bets??


Thank you.

There are two reasons. The first is that there is an ante, and in mid limit seven-card stud it is substantial.


The second reason is more complex and others may want to elaborate but 7A7 has some playing advantages that the other hands don't.

with the antes and the dead money it is profitable to raise if the J's will fold. Also, with the 7A7 if you catch a 7 you wil have a hidden hand and wil llikely get action all the way through the river.


Pat