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Welcome to the latest installment of the CardsChat Learning Series! In this eight-part journey, we’re diving deep into Seven Card Stud and Razz, two poker games that challenge your strategic thinking like no other. If you’ve ever wondered why these games faded from the spotlight or how they compare to Texas Hold’em, you’re in the right place.
Grab your chips and let’s explore what makes these poker variants unique—and why they’re still worth mastering today.
How Do These Games Compare to Hold’em and Omaha?
Stud games are a completely different beast compared to community card games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Here’s how:
Why Did Seven Card Stud Lose Popularity?
It wasn’t always this way—once upon a time, Seven Card Stud was king. So what happened?
In Summary
Seven Card Stud and Razz may not dominate poker rooms like Texas Hold’em does, but they offer unmatched strategic depth for players who crave a challenge. Whether you’re bluffing your way through Razz or calculating odds in Seven Card Stud, these games will sharpen your skills and test your mental fortitude. While the traffic is no where near as busy as Hold'em, you should still be able to find a game of stud playing on most major online poker rooms, and it still has a place at the WSOP in standalone events and mixed games like HORSE, 8-Game, 9-Game and The Poker Player's Championship.
And guess what? You can still find active stud tables at most major online poker sites—and they’re waiting for players like you.
Grab your chips and let’s explore what makes these poker variants unique—and why they’re still worth mastering today.
Why Play Seven Card Stud and Razz?
If you’re used to Texas Hold’em or Omaha, you’ll find Seven Card Stud and Razz refreshing yet challenging. Here’s why:- Unique Hands: Unlike Hold’em, where players share community cards, every player in stud games has their own unique hand. This means you need to pay close attention to what’s happening around the table.
- Strategic Depth: You’ll know between 2 and 4 of your opponents’ cards during the hand—information that opens up opportunities for advanced bluffing and psychological play.
- Poker Psychology: These games demand a sharper focus on reading opponents. The progression of each hand gives you more clues about their strategy than Hold’em does.
Why Choose One Over the Other?
Let’s break it down:- Seven Card Stud: For purists, building the best possible poker hand is the ultimate goal. This game rewards patience, observation, and calculated risk-taking.
- Razz: On the flip side, Razz flips traditional poker logic on its head—you’re playing for the lowest hand possible. It’s a fun twist for players who enjoy mixed games like HORSE and want to test their bluffing skills.
How Do These Games Compare to Hold’em and Omaha?
Stud games are a completely different beast compared to community card games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Here’s how:
- Complexity: Hold’em is simpler to learn because everyone shares the same community cards. In stud games, you must track every face-up card on the table—even those that are folded!
- Pace of Play: Hold’em is faster and more action-packed, especially with no-limit formats. Seven Card Stud takes longer due to its five betting streets.
- Focus Required: In stud games, every decision matters because of the unique hands. You’ll need laser-sharp focus to keep track of opponents’ cards and betting patterns.
Why Did Seven Card Stud Lose Popularity?
It wasn’t always this way—once upon a time, Seven Card Stud was king. So what happened?
- The Rise of Hold’em: When Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event in 2003 playing Texas Hold’em, it sparked a global poker boom. Suddenly, everyone wanted to play Hold’em.
- Casino Economics: Casinos favor faster-paced games like Hold’em because they generate more rake per hour than slower games like Seven Card Stud.
- Lower Stakes Appeal: Seven Card Stud is often played at lower stakes due to its extra betting street, which makes it harder to attract high rollers compared to Hold’em or Omaha.
In Summary
Seven Card Stud and Razz may not dominate poker rooms like Texas Hold’em does, but they offer unmatched strategic depth for players who crave a challenge. Whether you’re bluffing your way through Razz or calculating odds in Seven Card Stud, these games will sharpen your skills and test your mental fortitude. While the traffic is no where near as busy as Hold'em, you should still be able to find a game of stud playing on most major online poker rooms, and it still has a place at the WSOP in standalone events and mixed games like HORSE, 8-Game, 9-Game and The Poker Player's Championship.
And guess what? You can still find active stud tables at most major online poker sites—and they’re waiting for players like you.
What’s Next?
In Part 2 of our series, we’ll dive deeper into:- The types of starting hands you should play (and avoid) in Seven Card Stud and Razz.
- How the gameplay differs between these two variants.
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