[cognito20]

Hi everyone. My name's Scott, and I've just joined the 2+2 boards. I've been playing for about 6 months, and I'm mostly an online and home-game low-limit (0.50/1 through 2/4) player, although I do occasionally play in ring games at Turning Stone and Seneca Niagara (I live in Ithaca, NY).

Basically, I have a question concerning acceptable starting hands in heads-up matches, especially as applies to Seven-Card Stud, Stud Eight-or-Better, and Razz. My brother and I play weekly heads-up rotation matches (Limit Hold Em, Stud, Stud Hi/Low, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Low, Razz). We play starting with 1500 in chips apiece, Hold Em/Omaha structure is 10/20, and Stud is 15/30 with a dealer ante of 5 and a bring-in of 5. Now, I realize that, in Limit Hold Em headsup, pretty much any two cards are playable from the button, since you're in position and, with 5 and 10 blinds, getting 3-1 effective pot odds when no hand is that much of an underdog against a random hand. My question is, does this same logic apply to Stud, Stud/8 and Razz? In other words, with this ante, bring-in, and bet structure, is any hand playable against an opponent who just brings it in for the lower amount (5), i.e. is there any hand in Stud, Stud/8 or Razz that would be more than a 2-1 underdog against a random hand? If so, what do you think they would be? I realize that a lot of heads-up play is dependent on the opponent you're playing and your read of him/her, but are there hands out there, all other things being equal, that you would just throw away on Third Street? Also, what standards would you use to determine, if you are the bring-in, whether to either bring it in for the full amount or to call or reraise your opponent if he raises your bring-in? Would it be better to use something hand-value oriented, or something more in line with game theory?

I know this is a lot, especially for a first post, but any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. I'm finding 2+2 greatly informative thus far, and look forward to a long continuing dialogue with all of you. Cheers. :-)

--Scott M. Blish
Ithaca, NY