Additional Seven Card Stud Resources
We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning how to play seven card stud. Hopefully you’ve picked up a few tips from our lessons, but we’re not the only place to learn this wonderful poker game. As we’ve said many times, if you wish to improve your poker game then you must never stop learning. We’ll end this set of seven card stud lessons with a rundown of additional resources, namely the best books on the subject.
7 Card Stud, by Roy West
West has formatted his book into 42 lessons designed to make you a winning player. He covers starting strategy, hand reading advice, shorthanded play, ante stealing and many other worthwhile tips to improve your game. There is also a chapter devoted to tournament strategy written by 1983 World Series of Poker champ Tom McEvoy. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
7 Card Stud – The Waiting Game, by George Percy
My copy of this early primer was published in 1979 and is a total of 80 spiral bound pages. Back in the day it was solid advice although it is a bit outdated and simplistic by today’s standards. The “waiting game” part of the title gives away Mr. Percy’s very conservative, tight approach to the game. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Super System’s Seven-Card Stud (Chapter), by David "Chip" Reese
Chip Reese was selected by Doyle Brunson to write the Seven Card Stud Chapter in Super System because, to quote Brunson, “Without a doubt, Chip’s the best seven card stud player I’ve ever played with.” High praise coming from the Godfather of poker, the man himself. His contribution, published in 1978, was the best there was until Sklanky’s work came out in 1989. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Seven Card Stud for Advanced Players, by David Sklansky
This work has become known as the stud bible and advocates a tight, yet aggressive approach. The strategies offered are designed for the medium limit games such as $15-$30. The latest edition dubbed “The 21st Century Edition” is clearly the most thorough, insightful work on the subject of seven card stud and all its complexities. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Seven Card Stud Poker, by Konstantin Othmer
This work was originally titled The Elements of Seven Card Stud with this revision being expanded to include chapters on portraying an image and reading opponents. It covers everything from the basics to analyzing betting behaviour and identifying betting patterns. There are many charts and tables with illustrative graphs. There is also a strong focus to the math of the game, with a variety of situations. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Professional 7 Stud Report, by Mike Caro
This 32 page offering is packed with concepts and advice on how to evaluate the strength of your first three cards while also anticipating what your opponents may be holding. While a rather short treatise, it does have the unique outlook of the “Mad Genius of Poker” Mike Caro. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
The Education of a Poker Player, by Herbert O. Yardley
This classic was first published in 1957 and has been in and out of print a dozen times. While not the definitive work on seven card stud, it is an absolute treat to read and was written well before hold’em took over. It is one of the few books that has a special section with game variations which are only played in home games. Games such as “spit in the ocean”, “low hole card wild”, and “low spade – high hand” to name a few. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Seven Card Stud High-Low Split Eight or Better
High-Low Split Poker for Advanced Players, by Ray Zee
This book was written by high stakes professional poker player Ray Zee and is really two books in one. It covers high-low split pot eight or better poker for both seven card stud and Omaha. The first printing of this book was in 1994 and is still believed to include some of the savviest advice around. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
The Complete Guide to Winning Poker, by Albert H. Morehead
This early effort, while somewhat outdated is worth the read. It covers many forms of poker in addition to high-low split games. The author’s credo says it all; “Poker is a game of skill. If you aren’t beating the game, you are being outplayed”. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Championship Seven Stud-8 or Better & Razz, by Max Stern
These three WSOP champions outline strategies for both cash games and tournaments for seven card stud straight and eight or better, along with seven card razz. The forward was written by Mike Sexton whom readers will recognize as the lead commentator of the World Poker Tour. The text includes sample hands and play by play analyses. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Buy from Amazon.com
Super System’s High-Low Split (Chapter), by David Sklansky
Prolific poker author, David Sklansky was Doyle Brunson’s expert collaborator on high-low split poker in his Bible of poker, Super System. While this chapter does not specifically target eight or better, many of the concepts discussed apply to all high-low split games. This high-low chapter is well worth the read as is the entire book which covers several other forms of poker. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
As we mentioned in one of the earlier lessons, you will learn so much more about this game with playing experience. Playing online poker is one of the best ways to learn this game, and for beginners we recommend playing at the low limits to start with, and work your way up the levels once you gain confidence and improve your understanding. The dominant poker game online is hold’em, and many of the smaller online poker rooms struggle to get decent seven card stud games running. That’s why we recommend either Poker Stars or Full Tilt Poker (click links for our reviews) as they’re the two biggest online poker rooms where you will find action. Good luck at the tables!