Pokerwiner.com → Better stud poker
FAQ's
Reading Hands
1. What is the most common way to read hands?
Analyze the meaning of an opponent’s check, bet, or raise and then look at the exposed cards and try to judge from them what his entire hand might be. You then combine the plays he has made throughout the hand with the exposed cards and come to a determination about his most likely hand.
2. Is it a mistake to put an opponent on a specific hand quite early and then stick to it?
Yes.
3. On third street an opponent calls after you raise, then raises you on fourth street after catching a small suited card, but when you check to him on fifth poker street he also checks after catching a blank. What is a likely hand for him?
A flush draw.
4. What if he catches a flush card on sixth street?
You should not bet into him.
5. If he catches a blank on sixth street, what should you do?
Bet, and then probably check on the river unless you think that he also has a pair and will call with it.
6. In this situation, what if you were on a flush draw and have missed it?
You may now want to bet, since a reasonable chance exists that you can pick up the pot.
7. In practice, try to decide whether your opponent has what?
A bad hand, a mediocre hand, a good hand, or a great hand.
8. If an opponent bets on the end, what type of hand is he unlikely to have?
A mediocre hand.
9. What is a complimentary way to read hands?
To work backwards.
10. If someone with a small card up cold calls a raise and a reraise by a king and an ace, catches nothing special, but is able to raise on sixth street, what is his probable starting hand?
Since it does not seem possible that he would have called this far with something like a three-flushes or a small pair, you have to suspect that he is rolled up.
11. When you can’t actually put a person on a hand, but have reduced his possible holdings to a limited number, what do you use to determine the chances of his having certain hands rather than others?
Mathematics.
12. Suppose an opponent, who is a tight player, starts with a medium card up and catches a third suited upcard on sixth street that is also an ace. Now he bets. You hold a hidden three-of-a-kind. If many of that suit already were exposed, especially on third street, what should you do?
Raise. He probably has aces up.
13. What if the flush possibilities are live, and you think this is a possible hand for your opponent?
You should just call and raise only if you make a full house or better on the river.
14. Suppose on third street you have A♣ A♦ 4♠ . You raise, and an opponent behind you reraises with an eight up. On fourth street, both you and your opponent pair your door cards, and he bets. What should you do?
If you think your opponent is about equally likely to have a big pair in the hole (which is very unlikely to be aces) as another eight, you should at least call.
15. If you now catch an eight on fifth street and your opponent bets again, what is your play?
Your play is to raise if you know this opponent would still bet if he had only two pair.
16. What is another factor in reading hands and deciding how to play your hand?
The number of players in the pot.
17. How do players tend to play their hands in multiway pots?
Much more straightforwardly.
18. When else is this true?
If there are several players yet to act