[Nick_Foxx]

I don't think you need to learn Stud before you learn Stud Hi-Lo Split... I feel stud is a far more complex game to master than Stud/8, the people I've known who have been good at straight Stud have had excellent memories for the upcards as well as a general "card sense" of when they are ahead or behind... Stud/8 is more of a mechanical game and, in my opinion, easier to learn for this reason... As long as you play properly on 3rd and 4th streets (i.e., tight), you should do fine at the introductory limits... I also believe it is less important of a skill to remember folded upcards in 8-or-Better than straight Stud, although some forum members might disagree with me...

Mike