As Texas hold 'em grows ever more mainstream, the other variants in
the Horse range (Omaha, razz, seven stud high-low and eight-or-better Omaha)
grow ever more cool. But now poker is so fashionable, its trends move quicker
than a model who's just done a gram of coke and spotted Russell Brand at the
end of the catwalk. If you're a true fashionista, you will already consider
Horse old hat. We ran through its elements three months ago: in fashion time,
that's an aeon.
So how about mixing it up some more?
Here's an easy way to jazz up a seven stud high-low game: play it as
"Superstud". You will remember that all seven stud games begin with each player
being dealt two cards face down and one face up. In Superstud, players are each
dealt an initial five down cards. Each player then creates his own three-card
starting hand by throwing two away, turning one face up and continuing to play
as if it were "traditional" seven stud high-low.
A disciplined player
will always benefit from the temptation of others. The more reasons your
opponents have to stay in action, the better it is for you. With five initial
cards to choose from, four more to come and two ways to win the pot, how can
they resist?
In their opening five cards, they are bound to find a pair
and get excited. Meanwhile, you should be super-selective, waiting for strong
starting hands and picking three cards that "go both ways". If you have AQQ23,
throw the queens away and keep the hand that could become a nut low and a
straight. Your high-low rules - avoid the pitfalls of pairs and middling cards
- remain the same as ever. But your opponents have even more opportunity to
make mistakes.
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