7 card stud poker - Starting strategy: three card aggressive

Although the three card initial holding is rarely the most critical point for most home games, it’s relevance to some games makes it worth considering.

The best possible initial three-card holding is obviously three of a kind, or trips as it is often referred to. If you have trips at this stage, you already have a hand that does not need improving. Unfortunately, the statistics show that getting trips on the deal is going to happen to you fewer that three times in every thousand hands you are dealt. If you do get trips on your first three cards, you should silently count your blessings and focus on the best way to build the pot that you are about to win.

Big pairs are almost always playable and should be played aggressively. The exception is if you are likely to come up against someone who has a bigger pair.

Small and medium pairs can lead to dilemma. The two things to consider are the availability of the cards you need and the size of your sidecard or kicker. As mentioned a high kicker can add value to your hand. Nevertheless, playing on a pair of fours when you can see one lies with across the table with your opponent is usually a mistake.

Hands such as three to a flush and three to a straight are often playable. Again you must obviously make sure the cards you need are available. Unlike pairs these hands have no immediate value. You play them on the strength of their potential.