Stud/8 Questions

[PokerCat69]

First of all I'm in love with this game. Loads of fun.
Which book would you recommend if I intend to mainly play stud/8?

I'm just horsing around at this point since I don't know the game in great detail but all I've really been playing is:
Trips, 3 low cards, 3 suited.
With the 3-low/3-suited I normally fold 4th street if I didn't improve my hand.
Is this too tight?

[djr]

that's basically a good starting strategy

[spaminator101]

too tight
play some big pairs occasionaly
AAy is a good hand
and in a head up situation AA2 or AA3 is
better than 3low suited

u can play the big pairs when there is not a higher card out

play hands like 456, 567, 89-10 from late position

[PoorLawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
too tight
play some big pairs occasionaly
AAy is a good hand
and in a head up situation AA2 or AA3 is
better than 3low suited

u can play the big pairs when there is not a higher card out

play hands like 456, 567, 89-10 from late position

[/ QUOTE ]

89T? This sounds like a fold for someone just starting out.

[djr]

[ QUOTE ]
play hands like 456, 567, 89-10 from late position

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the first two fall into the 3-low category and should be played from any position. 89-10 is not that great a hand, even in last position, especially for a beginner. I'd stay away from medium straights personally, and I'll even add to my earlier post. Don't play any 3 flush. Make sure it's live and try to have one or two of the cards low, preferably the door card.

[kyleb]

Sounds good since you're just getting a grasp on the game. Make sure you play in games that have low antes (PokerStars) at the low limits, otherwise you're gonna get killed by playing so tight.

Once you open up your game and feel comfortable with raising and jamming, try semi-bluffing with an ace door card when people show weakness on third street, playing big pairs (and being able to give them up easily!), and playing mid-to-high three straights (789, 678, etc).

There is no doubt that the most important facet of Stud 8/b is discipline and the ability to throw away a losing hand before it marginally improves. Stud 8/b is a game where if you make one mistake, you will then be pot-committed but still be taking the worst of it. This usually happens on fifth street, and be forewarned that sixth street is often very expensive when it's multiway.

To draw a comparison to hold 'em, it would be like calling with a gutshot straight draw when not getting the proper odds on the flop, then opening up a double gutshot on the turn. You still have to call because now you're getting the proper odds, but you created the bad situation for yourself in the first place by calling the first bet. This type of behavior deludes people into believing that they are "creating the right odds" for themselves, when in reality they are only trapping themselves ever more into throwing away money.

So - fold, fold, fold and practice discipline. You'll get the hang of it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]