To paraphrase Doyle (because my copy of Super System is at home)..."In any split-pot game, it is important to remember that if you are playing a hand that only goes one way, your hand must be very strong in that direction to justify betting."

This naturally begs the question -- what constitutes 'very strong' with regard to an opening hand that realistically looks to only have a shot at the high? (I'm thinking in terms of a standard low-limit online environment...$4/8 or lower)

Obviously trips are always welcome, but what about some other common hands such as...

Aces (split or buried) with a kicker 9 or higher? In my book, this is an automatic when the kicker is 8 or lower because of the ability of the ace to work both ways, but what about when you have a high kick that leaves you no wiggle-room to make a low? Does having an ace pair give you enough strength to chase the high with enough reliability to make it a profitable move?

If opening with aces is OK, then where do you cut off the high pairs before you no longer consider yourself "very strong"? For instance, Brunson in his high/low section says kings are a no-no...but he's not talking about 8-or-better in his high/low discussion. Does what appears to be a minor distinction expand the range of playable high pairs that one can open with to beyond aces? (due ot the occasional possibility that no low hands will be made, allowing the high hand to scoop)

Three-to-a-flush or three-to-a-straight with high cards? I've been playing these without thought (assuming the table doesn't have a host of my needed completion cards lying face up on it) because in my mind my goal with a high-only hand is to have a good shot at making something that can beat a low straight (the most likely scooping hand a low will make).

Just looking for some feedback here to see if I'm thinking along the right lines as I'm really growing to like this game.

The biggest difference between Hold 'em and Stud/Omaha is that your starting hands need improvement in these two games. In Stud HL, you're looking for 3 cards that compliment each other and 4th St. will define if you're strong enough to scoop. "Strong enough" meaning that you still have a strong draw in both directions and the pot is laying you the price.

Heads up, that price is folding equity and going 3 or 4 way into 5th St. will give you a nice half pot or the ability to scoop if people fold that OTHERS are depending on to stay in to keep their price valuable. That will happen with the better players. With bad players, you'll be showing down every hand, so just keep waiting until you have a hand. The pots are juicy to multiply those antes, 3rd/4th St. calls that amount to nothing on 5th, and your bring ins.

Aggression pays in all forms of poker in different ways. At micro-limit Stud tables, the aggression will pay more because of the fish on 5th/6th/7th St., as in low-limit Hold 'em where the bulk of profit comes from turn and river betting.

Hold 'em is a game where players are only seperated by two cards, therefore made hands are made earlier in the hand.

Don't always forget, especially in 7s, that hand strength is very relative to other players boards. If your 3's up is high, then you have a good chance of scooping. But also (as I posted on poker pages Bad beats) a 5 high straight flush may only get you a quarter of the pot (or worse), when your opponent makes his wheel and 6 high straight flush.

As alex said 7s8b and O8b, requires subsequent streets to define your hand.

Playing micro micro limit Stud H/L, lowest I can find, still learning the game. Actually was at a table of tight players, usually was heads up or three way by 4th street, which is rare at these limits. Thats like getting heads up preflop at .05/.10 in LHE.

I get a beatiful Opener, , I complete the bet for the bring in.

Only caller has (:x:x)

4th () vs (:x:x)

Het bets, I call, not there yet.

5th () vs (:x:x)


OMG! I HAVE THE WHEEL FLUSH! ON 5 CARDS!

He opens again, I raise, He reraises, I cap, he calls. I figure he just made his low, if not the wheel. So I'm going for 3/4 of the pot right?

6th () vs (:x:x)

Again we cap.

7th ()(:x) vs (:x:x)(:x)

I don't remeber my down card, doesnt matter.

We cap again.

He turns up for the 6 high straight flush, beating my 5 high straight flush.

And of course we shared the wheel.

I turn the Wheel straight Flush in 5 cards, and I ended up losing money.

Felt like crying.