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There are an almost
unlimited number of Stud Poker variations. To add to the confusion
they often masquerade under different names, and there are also
variations of variations. We do not pretend that this chapter is
exhaustive or that the games we mention are invariably played exactly
as described.
For the most part, the games in this chapter do not feature in serious
large-limit poker, but small-limit poker can become dull without
a fair amount of variety. Contrary to popular belief, the greater
the number of variations played, the higher the skill factor, particularly
in the technical sense.
If you yourself are dealt an exposed trey, do not stay for the penalty
automatically (unless of course the penalty is trivial compared
to the size of the pot). Only pay if your hand looks like a good
odds-on bet for winning the pot. If your trey is your last up card
you should have at least four of a kind or a four-card straight
flush.
If this game is played with the penalty so small that anyone who
gets a trey will pay it automatically, it loses much of its interest.
It is a virtual certainty that a trey will turn up somewhere and
the game becomes merely Seven Card Stud with eight jokers. Average
winning hand is high fours, and nothing less than a straight flush
or fives is really worth getting excite about. The general principle
of play is not to stay unless you have a reasonably good chance
of ending up with something better than four of a kind. |
