| |
TEXAS HOLD'EM may be the most popular form of poker, but many experts believe that seven-card stud, played with a split-limit structure, is a more subtle and therefore more skilful game
Published: 2005-03-01
 POKER
Independent, The (London), March, 2005 by Nic Szeremeta
TEXAS HOLD'EM may be the most popular form of poker, but many experts believe that seven-card stud, played with a split-limit structure, is a more subtle and therefore more skilful game.
In seven-stud, players each receive three cards to start with, two down and one face up. The player with the lowest card showing has to make the opening bet, which is known as the "bring-in". In a $10-$20 limit game, this would be $3. There is also the option for the opening bet to be $10.
In total, there are another four rounds of betting, one after each of a further three cards are dealt face up and the last when a final down card is dealt.
The betting limit moves to the higher level on card five, aka "fifth street". The best possible five-card hand from the seven comes out the winner.
Many of the die-hard old timers in the UK claim that pot limit seven- card stud is more skilful. This, however, is easily disproved.
If there is a first-round raise at pot limit, the betting often gets so high that one player or another is all in by fourth or fifth street, and the dealer merely puts out the remaining cards to see who wins. Two or three rounds of betting are effectively eliminated.
In limit stud, this happens very rarely and the scope for spreading disinformation is much broader. For example, a player decides to enter a pot with a raise to $10 holding Q-J-10 with the Q showing.
Assume also that there are no queens, jacks or 10s among the upcards of the other seven players (stud is played eight-handed).
If there are no eights, nines, kings or aces showing either, the player with the Q-J-10 is odds on to be dealt a card that will improve the hand.
Of the 42 unknown cards remaining, 25 of them will be of help and only 17 will not.
Nine will make a pair (any Q-J-10), another eight will make an open-ended straight draw (either K or 9) and another eight will make an inside straight draw (ace or 8).
The initial raise will undoubtedly have driven some opponents out, leaving a depleted field. Those who remain will have "defined" their hands by calling. This means that their willingness to put chips in the pot means they must have a little something.
If the fourth cards they are dealt have little relationship to the cards they are showing then a bet from the initial raiser, even with no improvement, may be enough to take the pot.
Copyright 2005 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
| |
THE AMERICAN student Brandon Schaefer jumped at the chance to accompany his friend Carl Olson on a "buddy trip" to Europe last month
Published: 2005-03-01
 Poker
Independent, The (London), March, 2005 by Nic Szeremeta
THE AMERICAN student Brandon Schaefer jumped at the chance to accompany his friend Carl Olson on a "buddy trip" to Europe last month. Olson, 25, had won a qualifying satellite to play in the European Poker Tour event in Deauville and Schaefer, also 25, agreed to join him. His original plan was not to play in the tournament but to hit the cash action.
Instead, he joined the competition line-up - and won it, with Olson taking the runner-up spot. He picked up EUR144,000 (pounds 100,000) and his pal EUR72,000 (pounds 50,000).
More importantly, they both earnt EUR10,000 (pounds 7,000) seats into the EPT final in Monte Carlo so they decided to stick around for a few weeks. It was a good decision for Schaefer, as he managed to take second place in Monte Carlo, winning another EUR350,000 (pounds 240,000).
The Monte Carlo no limit hold'em affair had the biggest prize pool ever for a European tournament, with 211 players putting up more than EUR2m (pounds 1,400,000). After four days' play, Schaefer found himself heads up against the Dutch professional Rob Hollink, and he also had a chip lead of about 200,000 of the two million- plus in play.
The Dutchman may have been behind in chips, but he was definitely ahead in experience. He played a waiting game and what he was waiting for was his young opponent to make a mistake. And when Schaefer blundered, he did it badly. With the blinds at the 10,000- 20,000 level, he raised to 50,000 holding 3-4. Hollink called. The flop came 10-3-10, and Brandon bet out 80,000 chips.
There was nothing wrong with having a shot at a bluff, but when the experienced Dutchman raised the bet to 160,000 the alarm bells should have gone off in Schaefer's head.
If they did, he didn't hear them. Instead of passing with the chance to recoup his chips on a later hand, he moved all - betting his entire stack.
Of course Hollink called, and of course he had a 10 to give him a winning set of trips. The next two common cards, a 5 and a 7, were no use to Schaefer. He committed the 200,000 chips he had left to the very next hand. Again, he made a horrible mistake. Holding K-7, he did not bet when a second king appeared on the flop. The fourth up card was a jack and he checked again. It was not until the fifth card, an eight, was dealt that he moved all his chips in. Hollink was holding J-8 in his hand for a winning two pair. The two consecutive mistakes by his opponent earnt Hollink the title and EUR650,000 (pounds 450,000).
Copyright 2005 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
| | |
English
Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Pусский
Svenska