An Adventure in 7-Card Stud

I have always considered myself a Hold'em player. However, in a chance encounter at the 2009 Los Angeles Poker Classic, I was invited to play a "home" game in the Commerce Ballroom with three notable poker professionals and a few poker writers/bloggers that were just hanging about (not going to drop names - sorry). I am not representing that the Pros invited me, no - no - no, I was invited by a fellow blogger ("Matt") who recommended that I cure my Hold'em blues by playing a different game (I was totally tilted, but no reason to go into detail here). Matt invited me to play Badugi with him and his friends. I had never even heard of Badugi before that minute, but Matt said he would show me how to play so, I thought I would give it a shot. The table agreed on a mixed game of Badugi, Omaha H/L and 2-7. It was a lot of fun. I feel that I caught on quickly and, although I did not stay long in the game (I left with my boyfriend, Johan, before the 2-7 round), I found that I really enjoyed the variety. thanks to Matt, I realized that while I should continue to work hard to improve upon my Hold'em game, dabbling in other games would provided exposure to different ideals of play and provide a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately, I simply cannot not find anybody who is willing to casually play anything but Hold'em (it must be miserable to be so closed minded), so I have had to turn to on-line poker to find the games I want to try my hand at. PokerStars runs free-rolls for just about any type of game you could imagine to play, so I began playing any free-roll that was starting at the time I was logged on, regardless of the game or whether I knew how to play it or not. I would refer to the website's on-line help guide to explain the betting procedures, and search the Internet for tidbits of advice. However, I must confess that on-line free-rolls are not the best way to learn how to play any game with an intent of staking hard earned money on; but I certainly had fun and picked up some basic concepts.

The 2009 California State Poker Championship tournament offered a 7-Card Stud tournament for the rather affordable buy-in of $335.00. I simply could not corral my curiosity and, after talking myself in and out of playing, I found myself buying-in to Event No. 18 during the 3rd Level as the 12th Alternate. I had never played 7-Card Stud with live cards or for any money or value until I played my first hand that day. Early on I made some mistakes and got caught in a sick cooler when my Kings full of 6s lost to Aces full of 7s. Over all I think I played well, but I have to admit that I sucked out on a few hands - - that's poker folks. I will not deny that I played ultra tight and did not get into hands without at least a starting pair or Ace/paint (I never played a weak Ace), but my biggest hands were won in multi-way pots.

I was moved around to at least 4 tables, until I finally landed at a table with a loose-aggressive player ("Joshua"). I sat down at the same time as Mr. Grumpy in Seat 8. It was soon very clear to me that Joshua must have been running all over the players of that fateful table, because he had proclaimed that only he and gentleman to his left were the only original players that remained. Joshua, Mr. Grumpy and I were about even in chips (and among the members of the above-average chip leaders), but Joshua's heater must have kicked in just as my luck ran out. So long as I was sitting at Joshua's table, few other players could win against him - and just my luck, every seat shuffle paired us together until I was out of the tournament.

With the exception of two men (Mr. Grumply included) who were hell bent on outplaying Joshua, after he crippled a player's chip stack, that player would tighten up to the point where multi-way pots were all but non-existent and Joshua controlled the action in his favor. At least 4 players that I spoke to simply chose to stay out of his way and wait for other players to get knocked out in order to climb up the ranks. It literally became a last man standing competition amongst the short stacks. I believe I could have made it deeper in the money had I sat at a Joshua-free table because I simply could not win a showdown against him and I could not out play him - especially when he was running so hot with a huge chip stack to call. The only thing I could do was single out those players that Joshua had run over, and as soon as Joshua passed on a hand, take what opportunities I could to bust them out for their chips.

I cleaned up at least 4 of Joshua's casualties while sitting with him, but it simply was not enough to catch up. Every time I brought my chips up to a somewhat healthy count, I would catch a big pair off position from Joshua whose hand always manged to just one-up mine (he often caught two small pairs early on 4th street to crack my larger hole pair, actually 4th street favored Joshua against just about every player). I manged to stay in the game and bagged up my short stack at the end of Day 1.

However, in the end it was Joshua that took me out on Day 2. He told me all along he was gunning for my chips, and he got them one chip at a time. Clearly, he was a much better Stud player than I...but of course, this event was the first time I had ever played 7-Card Stud other than the 2 or 3 PokerStars free-rolls that I tried.

All that said and done, I am proud of myself. I played against some of the best stud players in Southern California and held my own. I waded through a field of 162 players, made it to the final two tables and cashed in 13th place. I believe my achievement was way more than just beginner's luck. My play was predictable I am sure, but served its purpose to set up my table presence in a game I was doing my best to figure out. I am certain that those Stud Pros had no idea that they were teaching me how to play their game while I watched carefully and learned from every move they made. Perhaps they just wrote me of as a Hold'em player that was in way over her head, but I do not care. I liked playing the game and believe I will only get better. I plan on playing 7-Card Stud again, as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Since I do not know too many stud players, I invite any comments containing advice.

Back from Hiatus - But Not Such a Good Showing

Well, life and reality sure have a way of interrupting one's visions of grandeur. Since I don't exactly have the bankroll to quit my day job, I have been putting in some grueling hours at the office. As such, I have not had extra time on my hands to chase my dream. In addition, I am currently the primary bread winner for my family of five, so taking risks has had to take a back seat to maintaining security.

Well on Saturday, May 16, 2009, I decided to play Day 1b of Event #16 of the California State Poker Championship. I believe I played well, paced myself, and caught some good hands - most of which held up. At the beginning of the tournament, I initially sat downstairs in Commerce Casino's high stakes poker room. My first table was cold-decked. Flop after flop, nothing but coolers. In one hand, three-players who each held pocket pairs split the pot when the board rivered Broadway - ha, ha, ha, I had pocket 2's. In the middle of level 3, the table was moved upstairs, but after only three or four hands the table was collapsed and we were all sent off in different directions.

I was sent to another table and sat across from notable poker professional, Mimi Tran. Unfortunately, as I was settling into my chair, she lost a big pot and was left with just 700 in chips. Mrs. Master was knocked out just a few hands later so, I did not get the opportunity to watch her play. I doubled up once and picked up a few additional small pots right before the level ended and the first break of the tournament began. After the break, people started dropping like flies and the table was broken down just a few minutes into level 4. It took only 4 hours of play to get down to 300 players from the initial field of 850 contenders, and the blinds had just gone up to 300/150+25 at level 6. There were two dominating chip leaders at my table (Table 14), and a few short stacks - - but otherwise, I had about the same amount of chips as 6 other players. However, with the blinds going up and players going out, I felt it was time to make some moves. I had been sitting at my table for over an hour and my table presence was well established.

At Table 14, in Seat-9 was a gentleman who was clearly sitting on a heater, he was the table chip leader and top 10 in chips for the remaining field. Round after round he caught hands that held up or cracked his opponents' hands; several times he knocked out two seats for the price of one. I personally witnessed Mr. Horseshoe (as I have affectionately named him) bust 5 of the 7 knockouts during the hour hand a half I sat at table 14.

Just a few hands later, and about 10 minutes into level 6, I pick up A/Q in mid-position. Mr. Horseshoe had limped under the gun and I took note...he had to have a small or mid-pair because every time he limped, he turned over pocket pairs under 9s at the showdown. The action folded around to me and I had a decision to make. I had excellent table presence by that time, so I shove out of Seat-4. I know Mr. Horseshoe was the man to double through (he had me covered 10 to 1) and I needed to isolate him.

Action folded back around to Mr. Horseshoe, and after about 5 minutes of thought, counting and recounting his chips, and peeping at his hole cards, he called. We turned our hands over and Mr. Horseshoe showed pocket 7s. The flop went 2-3-4 with 2 clubs on board. I had the Ace of clubs, so even if I had limped pre-flop, Mr. Horseshoe had an over-pair and we all know he would have put me all-in on that flop - - and since I had over cards, I calculated I had about ten outs plus a runner-runner club draw...yeah - this was an all-in hand no matter how you sliced it. A red Queen hit on the turn - yeah buddy! The table cheered. I was ahead and a HUGE favorite! He was drawing to two outs by the time that turn hit the felt. I had the entire deck working for me, the river could be any card - - any card but a seven. In fact, not only had I beat his 7s, but it appeared that my hand could only improved while he was a 4% underdog and was drawing all but dead. Again, I'm only afraid of two 7s (did anybody fold a seven?).

Well, I may have been a huge favorite to double up and be 3rd in chips at that table, but I did not christen him Mr. Horseshoe for nothing. While many have told me that I generally run well and have some luck on my side, that guy had a horseshoe firmly lodged up his butt! Yup, you guessed it, he caught his 7 on the river - - I was outta-there.

I felt good though. I had been running bad earlier in the year...I mean completely card-dead and cold decked. But I actually caught hands, survived a cold deck table, and made some great plays. I made great decisions, used my table presence for some well timed aggressive plays, my reads were good, and my gut felt finely tuned to what to hold and what to fold. Even with the bad beat...I know I am back on my game. Mr. Horseshoe almost folded -- he picked up his cards with this knuckles and tapped them on the table a few times with his right hand before he finally threw in his chips with his left. Most players in his position, with his chips against my meager stack would say it was an easy call, but his indecision made it clear to me that my presence was strong. He almost had the clock called him. I wonder if his horseshoe ran out of juice after that hand.

In addition, I got some mad love and support from my friends who had missed seeing me at the casinos. Moreover, I got some unexpected support from my on-line friends. Thank you for everything. I am feeling motivated and most likely will be playing Sunday's Event #17, 7-Card Stud.