Stud 8/b

When I play right, this is probably my best game. Well, probably is an understatement. I have won 5 buy in tournaments of stud 8/b, I think I've won 3 for hold'em, and the hold'em were smaller fields.

I like Stud8, it's probably the most technical game of any "major" for of poker. Like Omaha 8/b many people make the mistake of only playing for half the pot, even when they won't win it.

Your best situation is when you get the unexpected (for the other players) scoop. When you have a 7 low backing up your nut flush, it's time to jam the pot.

That isn't to say you can't show a profit playing for half the pot, in the right conditions you can. Tonight a hand comes up where my 7 low is a lock to win the low when we are 3 handed on 6th street. The other two players willingly come along for the ride as we jam the pot, capping it on 6th and 7th. This means 12 big bets went in the pot when I had the nuts for the low. I invested 4 of them, and my share of the pot is 6 big bets (of the 12 added on the last two streets). So jamming made 2 extra bets for me. When you find someone at the table willing to be a sucker like this, be happy.

Even better tonight, the sucker made the flush he was chasing, so the reward he thinks he got (in fact, he lost an average of about 3 big bets over time) will keep him making loose, bad decisions like that. My bankroll will be happier because he drew out on the straight.

Oh and if you were wondering, I also had a straight draw going in to 7th, so there was at least some chance I scoop. This is another time you should jam with the low, you build the table image of a maniac betting out with just a low, while in reality it's a strict value-bet that shows you a nice profit when you hit the gut-shot straight to go with your low and get it paid off.

My first winning session of the month is in the books, look out poker world, I'm mounting my comeback!