Wed, 08/24/2011 – 05:52 – PokerPages Staff

The classic game of seven-card stud poker is one which any beginner poker player should learn. Read the following poker information to find out how to play the most traditional high-hand wins all variation of the game.

What you need:
•    52 card deck
•    chips
•    two to seven players

How to play:
•    Each player bets an ante.
•    The dealer then gives each player three cards starting from the left. Two of the cards, known as the pocket or hole cards, are placed faced down and the other is dealt face-up.
•    Each player can look at their pocket cards.
•    Whichever player has the lowest card facing-up bets the ‘bring in’ bet. Betting then resumes from that player’s left.
•    Once the betting has finished, a face-up card is dealt to each player. This card is referred to as ‘the turn’ or ‘fourth street’.
•    The second round of betting is started with the player who has the highest card. With each subsequent round of betting this will now be the case.
•    Once this round has finished a fifth card, known as ‘the river’ or ‘fifth street’, is dealt.
•    A sixth round of betting commences after the fifth round is complete.
•    The seventh and final card is dealt facing down and each player takes it into their own hand. This is then the final round of betting.
•    After this, each player shows their hand. The winner is the player who made the best five-card hand from the seven dealt.

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Thu, 08/11/2011 – 23:54 – PokerPages Staff

When you start out as a beginner poker player, it’s especially important to know as much about your opponents as possible. Read on to find out the main types of player you’ll be betting against.

Loose/Aggressive players

These players play a lot of hands. After or before a flop, they’re more than willing to raise bets and it’s hard to bluff against them. They tend to win a lot of small pots but if your hand’s strong, they’ll generally lose.

Loose/Passive players

A loose, passive player is renowned for playing basically any hand. Whatever their two cards, they’ll call right up to the river and tend to lose out, due to overplaying half a hand. Nicknamed ‘calling stations’, it’s easy to win money off them due to their betting style.

Tight/Aggressive players

Regarded as the best type, they play with the best starting hand and will raise bets in order to make the most money from the hand they have. If the odds are not in their favor, they tend to simply fold. A good tip: don’t try and bluff against these players.

Tight/Passive players

A tight passive player only plays when they possess a good hand. They don’t tend to know what to do on or after a flop. They definitely don’t take any risks with their poker bets and will usually check, as opposed to raise. They can do well against weak players but not strong ones.

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