|
Real
Casinos> Gambling Articles > Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, A Strange Hybrid
Seven Card Stud
Hi-Lo, A Strange Hybrid
There are many different poker games and variance of poker
games out there, though perhaps one of the most intriguing is seven card stud
hi-lo. Most players recognize hi-lo from
Omaha Hi-Lo, in
which there is a best possible low hand and a best possible high. Seven card stud hi-lo is based around the
same concept, but instead of getting four cards, like in any Omaha variant, you get seven. This brings more cards into play, and add in
the fact that you get to see half of all your opponents’ hands (and they see
yours, as well) throws in an entirely different dynamic that makes this game
extremely fun, while incredibly challenging.
In seven card stud hi-lo, you will be dealt a hand just like
in seven card stud. This means that for
the initial deal, everyone gets two cards down, and one flipped up facing
everyone. A round of betting takes
place. Once all the players either call
or fold, a fourth card gets dealt to every player, this one is also face
up. A round of betting ensues. The fifth and sixth cards both follow the
same pattern. Not only does this lead to
a lot of betting, but it also is intriguing because you can watch many players’
hands develop even as yours does, as well.
The seventh and last card goes to each player face down and a final
round of betting follows.
As with Omaha Hi-Lo, there is a low hand for half of the
pot, and a high hand for half of the pot.
The best high hand wins its half, and the best low hand wins its half. One of the added benefits of seven card stud
hi-lo is the heavily increased chances (especially at a full table) that there
will always be one high hand and one low.
This is because of all the extra cards in play, plus seeing what other
people get can sometimes also help you more accurately guess your odds when you
start seeing the cards you need pop up in other people’s hands.
Seven card stud hi-lo is an interesting hybrid of two much
more widely played forms of poker.
Usually you will only find this variance in home games or in online
casinos. Why play this odd game? There are several great features to seven
card stud hi-lo. For one, having a high
and a low means there are so many ways to win part of a pot. Not only does this make more hands playable,
but this also increases the action from other players. These are not boring, sit back, nothing
happens type of games! In addition,
since everyone else gets to see four out of seven cards in everyone else’s
hands, bluffs can be harder to pull off, or easier, depending what’s
buried. Watch the look on the guy’s face
bluffing a straight when every 9 and A he would need shows face up in other
people’s hands. These types of turns are
great!
Seven card stud hi-lo is slowly gaining popularity as players
realize that the luck, skill, and action this game requires truly makes it a
fun yet challenging experience time and time again.
|
