As poker continues to diversify beyond No-Limit Texas Hold’em, mixed games—rotating through multiple poker variants within a single session—have surged in popularity. Mixed games test a player’s adaptability, memory and strategic depth. Two key components of many mixed rotations are Seven-Card Stud and Razz. Although often overshadowed by community card games, mastering these stud variants can give you a crucial edge over opponents who are less versatile. This comprehensive guide will detail the rules, strategic principles, advanced tactics, and practice methods required to add Stud and Razz to your poker arsenal. By the end, you’ll have the tools and confidence to tackle H.O.R.S.E., 8-Game Mix and other mixed-game formats.
Table of Contents
- Why Learn Stud & Razz?
- In-Depth Overview of Seven-Card Stud
2.1 Game Structure & Betting Rounds
2.2 Starting-Hand Selection & Examples
2.3 Strategic Principles & Practical Tips - In-Depth Overview of Razz
3.1 Game Structure & Objective
3.2 Starting-Hand Selection & Examples
3.3 Strategic Principles & Practical Tips - Transitioning to Mixed Games
4.1 Popular Mixed-Game Formats
4.2 Bring-In and Dealer Button Nuances
4.3 Bankroll Management & Game Selection - Advanced Mixed-Game Strategy
5.1 Multi-Variant Hand Reading
5.2 Bet Sizing, Frequency & Balance
5.3 Exploiting Opponent Tendencies
5.4 Mental Game & Tilt Control - Practice, Study & Improvement
6.1 Online Tools & Simulators
6.2 Hand History Review & Analysis
6.3 Live Play & Physical Tells
6.4 Community & Coaching Resources - Conclusion
- Why Learn Stud & Razz?
• Diversification: Relying solely on Hold’em allows specialized opponents to exploit your narrow skill set. Stud and Razz improve your overall poker IQ and adaptability.
• Softer Fields: Many mixed-game sessions attract players less familiar with stud variants, presenting opportunities for value betting.
• Skill Development: Stud games demand strong memory—tracking upcards—and Razz encourages precise low-hand evaluation. Both disciplines sharpen your hand-reading, odds calculation and observation skills.
• Profit Potential: Mixed games generally carry higher rake or antes; skilled players can overcome this through superior play and more profitable decisions. - In-Depth Overview of Seven-Card Stud
2.1 Game Structure & Betting Rounds
In Seven-Card Stud each player ultimately receives seven cards—three down and four up. There are five betting rounds:
• Third Street: Each player is dealt two cards face‐down and one face‐up. The player with the lowest upcard “brings in” and posts a forced bet.
• Fourth Street: One more face-up card is dealt to each remaining player, followed by a betting round starting with the highest upcard.
• Fifth Street (Fifth Street): A third face-up card, then betting. At this stage players have seen three upcards and two downcards.
• Sixth Street: A fourth upcard is dealt, followed by another betting round.
• Seventh Street (River): Final downcard for each, then a last round of betting.
• Showdown: Players make the best five-card poker hand from their seven cards.
2.2 Starting-Hand Selection & Examples
Strong starting hands in Stud are defined by quality of upcards, hidden downcards, and drawing potential.
Premium hands:
• Big Pairs: A♠-A♣-K♠ up/down/up combination. A single downcard Ace gives you three-of-a-kind potential and a strong visible pair to scare opponents.
• Three-Card Gutshots: Cards such as 7♣-8♦-9♠ (with two suited) provide both straight and flush possibilities. An opponent with a weak visible pair is often priced to call your draws.
Folding hands:
• Unpaired, disconnected low cards like 4♦-7♣-9♥. The lack of pairing potential and weak visible cards means you will face unfavorable pot odds on later streets.
• Small pair with poor upcard, e.g., 3♠-3♥-8♦: you have a low pair but your upcard 8 is easily dominated, and you lose your bring-in advantage.
2.3 Strategic Principles & Practical Tips
• Memory & Card Removal: Use a simple notation mentally—track how many cards of each rank remain. If you hold two spades and see two spades on the board, the flush is less likely.
• Position Adjustments: On early streets, act conservatively if you have to bring in or post small bets out of position. Later streets, seize opportunities to bluff when opponents check weaker visible boards.
• Bet Sizing: Early on, half-pot bets on draws are standard. Later streets, consider over-bets on monster hands to deny equity. For instance, a full-pot shove on sixth street with flopped three-of-a-kind can protect against straight or flush draws.
• Opponent Profiling: Tag opponents who chase every small draw; lay down medium-strength hands against them. Versus tight players, steal pots aggressively when their upcards are weak.
- In-Depth Overview of Razz
3.1 Game Structure & Objective
Razz uses the same deal as Seven-Card Stud but the goal is the lowest possible five-card hand. Aces are always low, straights and flushes are ignored. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5, known as “the wheel.” The player with the highest upcard on Third Street posts the bring-in.
3.2 Starting-Hand Selection & Examples
Premium starting hands in Razz:
• A-2-3 with one concealed low card. For example, dealt 2♣-3♦ face-up and A♠ face-down: the best possible starting combination.
• 2-3-4 two of which are concealed. This hand can become a very low five-card hand, and opponents often overfold when you represent strong lows.
Marginal or fold:
• Any hand containing a pair (even 2-2-5) or any upcards of 8 or higher. These hands rarely improve to the nut low and often force you into difficult decisions on Fourth or Fifth Street.
3.3 Strategic Principles & Practical Tips
• Bring-In Awareness: Opponents with a King or Queen upcard will bring in; aggressive players may try to “hit and run” early. Exercise caution against re-raises.
• Watching Board Texture: Track which low cards are live. If three of the four deuces are visible, your A-2-4-5 hand loses value.
• Early Aggression: Taking the lead on Fourth Street with a strong three-card low often forces poorer hands to fold.
• Pot Odds vs. Future Streets: Only chase to Seventh Street when pot odds justify it—e.g., calling 1 small bet to win 4 for a 9-8-4 draw.
• Value Betting: On Sixth and Seventh Street, bet thinly for value when you hold the probable nut low. Many opponents will call with 6-7-8-9-10 type hands, giving you extra profit.
- Transitioning to Mixed Games
4.1 Popular Mixed-Game Formats
• H.O.R.S.E.: One rotation of Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo. Often high-stakes venues run H.O.R.S.E.
• 8-Game Mix: Adds 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit 2-7 Single Draw (Kansas City), Badugi, Big/Omaha, Plus several other variants in rotation. 8-Game Mix demands versatility across draw and stud disciplines.
4.2 Bring-In and Dealer Button Nuances
• In Stud and Razz the bring-in can be posted by the highest or lowest upcard depending on variant. Know these rules to avoid posting out of turn or missing your correct betting obligation.
• In mixed games, the dealer button still determines the order of blinds in Hold’em and Omaha, but the bring-in rotates per variant—remain alert to each game’s custom.
4.3 Bankroll Management & Game Selection
• Volatility: Stud and Razz can swing dramatically due to strong made hands and large betting rounds.
• Cash Games: Maintain 30–50 buy-ins for the highest studied limit you play. If you move up from $1/$2 to $2/$4 mixed, consider a 50% bankroll cushion.
• Mixed Game Tournaments: Require at least 100 buy-ins due to amplified variance.
• Start at Low Limits: Play $0.25/$0.50 until you achieve a consistent win rate across all variants.
- Advanced Mixed-Game Strategy
5.1 Multi-Variant Hand Reading
• Develop a routine: On each street in Stud or Razz, pause briefly to catalogue visible cards, track likely holdings range, and note folds.
• Cross-Variant Memory: Remember that skills in Stud—such as card removal—translate to Omaha Hi-Lo’s split-pot considerations and Triple Draw’s incomplete information.
5.2 Bet Sizing, Frequency & Balance
• Avoid Predictability: Mix small and large bets in Stud. If you only ever bet big when strong, opponents will fold prematurely.
• Bluffing Frequency: In Razz, occasional bluff raises with weak exposed upcards can pick up pots if opponents miss their low draws. Balance these versus straightforward value lines.
5.3 Exploiting Opponent Tendencies
• Tag Those Who Over-Chase: Many Hold’em specialists misjudge hand strength in Razz and Stud draws. Identify these players and adjust by value-betting more thinly.
• Capitalize on Mistimed Aggression: Opponents who bluff late in Stud with negligible draws frequently overcommit on Sixth Street—plan check-raises for maximum value.
5.4 Mental Game & Tilt Control
• Mixed-game sessions test mental stamina as you juggle shifting rules. Build routines between games—take notes, stretch, clear your mind.
• Recognize Tilt Triggers: Losing a huge pot in Stud or missing a nut low in Razz can provoke frustration. Practice deep breathing or short breaks to maintain focus.
- Practice, Study & Improvement
6.1 Online Tools & Simulators
• PokerSnowie and Equilab: Use custom Stud and Razz simulations to analyze hand ranges and equity.
• Online micro-limit mixed tables: Sites like 888poker and Ignition offer affordable mixed game action for volume.
6.2 Hand History Review & Analysis
• Tag key hands where you lost big or won spectacularly. Reconstruct opponents’ likely ranges and note how card removal affected your equity.
• Seek feedback on forums such as TwoPlusTwo’s Razz and Stud sections.
6.3 Live Play & Physical Tells
• Live mixed games add the dimension of physical tells. Watch for breathing changes or chip-stack movement when players have good upcards.
• Practice note-taking discreetly to track each player’s tendencies across multiple variants.
6.4 Community & Coaching Resources
• Join specialized study groups or Discord channels focused on mixed games.
• Consider private coaching from a mixed-game pro to accelerate your learning curve.
Adding Seven-Card Stud and Razz to your poker toolkit elevates your adaptability, sharpens your memory and enhances your ability to exploit less-versatile opponents. By rigorously studying starting-hand selection, betting dynamics and opponent profiling, and by practicing both online and live, you will confidently navigate H.O.R.S.E., 8-Game Mix and bespoke rotations. Begin at manageable stakes, track your progress, and steadily advance to higher limits. With disciplined study and dedicated practice, mixed games will not only diversify your poker enjoyment but also become a consistent source of profit in your journey as a comprehensive poker player.
