How to Count Cards in 7 Card Stud

Seven Card Stud is all about the cards. In order to play this game successfully you have to make sure you pay attention to every up card which will give you a pretty clear indication of how strong or weak your hand is in relation to your opponents. Counting live cards based on suits and sequence is critical if you plan on staying one step ahead of the game. You don’t necessarily have to sit at the table with a pen and paper to keep track of the live cards, but being able to recall the majority of them will definitely help. This article provides basic strategy for counting cards in seven card stud.

Determining which cards are live is fairly simple. The more players dealt into the hand and remain in the hand to see additional cards, the more live cards in play. To make counting cards easier, use your hand to compare the number of dead cards to you. Once the first betting round is complete, check the table for any of the cards that will help strengthen your hand. Suppose you have a 58T, cards that will help you would be 4,6,7,9,J,Q along with the remaining 9 cards to give you a pair or set. Quickly scan the table for any doors cards that match the cards you need and count them as dead. This includes cards by sequence or suits. If you can play for the flush you’ll need to evaluate the other players on later streets to see how strong their potential flush is compared to yours.

Counting Cards on 4th Street in Stud Poker

Once you’ve reached fourth street you can now look for cards that have the potential to increase your hand either through a straight or flush and will have a pretty good idea on what your opponent may be playing to put them on a range. By fourth street you’ll be able to discredit potential flushes if there appears to be a large number of a particular suit spread across the other players door cards. That said you should also make yourself aware of any player who has paired their door cards as they will be open to full house possibilities on later streets.

Fifth Street Stud Poker and Counting Cards

Fifth street gives you a very clear indication of what you’re up against. If a player has three suited door cards and begins to bet, it can be assumed he’s drawing to his flush or has his flush. Make sure you’ve scanned the table again for live and dead cards. Also be aware of duplicate cards and where those cards can be used for other opponents. If you notice someone drawing to an A high straight and on fifth street, three players receive a K, it’s unlikely that the player will make their hard with one card to come. Usually in scenarios such as this, one bet will force them to fold. That’s not to say you shouldn’t play with caution as there is the possibility that they made their hand on 5th street and that draw was hidden as a door card.

If your hand on 5th street is still marginal at best, play with caution when you see an opponent pair a door card and begins to play aggressively. This is usually a pretty good indicator that he’s holding either a set or full house. The same holds true when it appears your opponent has a straight. There is a possibility that he’s betting for value with his open ended, but your best strategy is to avoid situations where you get sucked in. If the majority of the cards you need to make your hand are still dead you should be folding.

An easy tip for keeping tabs on suited cards is to use the four coloured deck option when playing online poker. This feature is usually located within the top menu panel in the poker room lobby.

Posted by Senior Editor on Feb 23 2011. Filed under Poker Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.