The Variance of Stud

[Salva135]

I'm just curious to know how people view the variance of Stud vs. a game like Hold 'em. People have told me that it can be worse than hold em, but it wasn't until I started playing that I realized just how crazy it can be. I'll go an an incredible run, pulling down every other pot at over 10 BB/100 hands, and then suddenly hit a BRICK WALL. Suddenly, no starting hand is safe, my flushes are beaten by full houses over and over, I'm missing every draw, etc. Eventually I go back on a hot streak, and my bankroll reaches its previous level, at which point the downswing promptly begins again.

Do good stud players experience this often? I'm typically a decent tight player, close to 20% on 3rd street, don't chase with improbable draws, etc., but there are times when I'm hitting everything, and other times when literally every single monster hand I have is getting destroyed by an even bigger monster. I don't know what to do...

[PLOlover]

Fwiw I've found that the only time you get screwed is when you stop getting action on your big hands. Luckily it seems that playing online doesn't have this problem. Also I like online because if I go 100 hands without getting a playable one I just quit and come back a little later.

[Jeffage]

The variance of stud is much worse at higher limits with a high ante than it is in a tightly structured low limit game. This is b/c the pots are bigger initially and thus grow bigger, giving people correct odds to chase. This also applies to low limit games w/ high antes (like 3-6 with a 50 cent ante). Something like 10-20 w/ a $1 ante shouldn't have ridiculous monetary swings for someone playing properly (ie. tight).

General comments on the game differences: The best hand holds up more in Hold Em...you will get rivered and sucked out on more in stud, which can be annoying. I mean, if you have AK in Hold em and someone has A8 and the flop comes A-3-7 you have them dead to a 3-outer. But if you start with a big pair in stud, it's much easier for you to lose to two pair. Though in stud, you also have much more info so it is possible to become a truly expert player than can play people like a fiddle. Also, it's easier to avoid marginal hands in stud whereas in hold em it can be more tempting to get involved, so that limits swings somewhat. Finally, I've found mid/hi stud games to be much less aggro than their hold em counterparts. Late street raises typically mean a strong holding. I feel I need far less cash to play something like 75-150 stud at Taj than 75-150 Hold Em even though that seems wrong. But it's my experience.

Jeff

[kyleb]

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I feel I need far less cash to play something like 75-150 stud at Taj than 75-150 Hold Em even though that seems wrong. But it's my experience.

Jeff

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I agree with that completely. I feel the need to carry 300 BB's in Hold 'em but feel comfortable playing with 150-200 BB's in Stud 8/b and Omaha 8/b.

[Jeffage]

I assume you mean in your bankroll, not to the casino itself. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Jeff

[Nick_Foxx]

I have a suggestion, you should give Stud Hi/Lo 8-or-better a shot, it's probably the poker game with the lowest amount of variance (it's either Stud/8 or Omaha/8... played with fixed limits).

Mike

[bholdr]

[ QUOTE ]
Suddenly, no starting hand is safe, my flushes are beaten by full houses over and over, I'm missing every draw, etc. Eventually I go back on a hot streak, and my bankroll reaches its previous level, at which point the downswing promptly begins again.

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welcome to stud

[Andy B]

My swings are much smaller at stud than they are at hold'em. Of course,

1) I play stud better than hold'em, at least most of the time.

2) I sometimes play hold'em for much higher stakes than I play stud. The biggest (high-only) stud game in my area is $6/12, but $15/30 and $30/60 hold'em go every day.