Views from the Rail

I play all stud games terribly. This is something I’m working on, but it’s slow going. Luckily, in poker, you don’t have to always play the game you’re best at. No, you just have to find someone who plays worse than you do.

I’ve found this to be the case within the stud games in the 7-game mix. People’s weakest game is often stud8 or razz (and stud high to a lesser extent). I think it’s interesting that so many people radically misplay razz hands. I mean the cards are all up. They’re right there. And yet I see them cap 3rd with a T up while I’m showing an ace. They donk/call 6th when I have them board locked. They open complete Ts and 9s in stud8 when I have wheel cards as my door.

Here are two hands, one stud8 and one razz. I’m sure I played the razz hand fine so I’m posting it here for lols. I’m also sure I misplayed the stud8 hand. I think 3rd is okay since this villain’s opening range is super wide, but then I’m super lost on later streets. Any input would be awesome.

First the Razz hand:

Full Tilt Poker $50/$100 Limit Razz $10 Ante – 2 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

3rd Street: (0.4 SB)
Hero: 3 2 A ___Hero completes___Hero 3-bets___Hero calls
Seat 2: xx xx T ____Seat 2 brings in for $15____Seat 2 raises____Seat 2 caps!

4th Street: (8.4 SB) (2 players)
Hero: 3 2 A 8 ___Hero bets
Seat 2: xx xx T 9 ____Seat 2 calls

5th Street: (5.2 BB) (2 players)
Hero: 3 2 A 8 6 ___Hero bets
Seat 2: xx xx T 9 7 ____Seat 2 calls

6th Street: (7.2 BB) (2 players)
Hero: 3 2 A 8 6 Q ___Hero raises
Seat 2: xx xx T 9 7 3 ____Seat 2 bets____Seat 2 calls

7th Street: (11.2 BB) (2 players)
Hero: 3 2 A 8 6 Q 8 ___Hero bets
Seat 2: xx xx T 9 7 3 xx____Seat 2 checks____Seat 2 calls

Final Pot: 13.2 BB
Hero shows 3 2 A 8 6 Q 8 (8,6,3,2,A)
Seat 2 mucks J 2 T 9 7 3 A
Hero wins 13.195 BB
(Rake: $0.50)

And now (gulp) the Stud8 hand:

Full Tilt Poker $25/$50 Limit Stud Hi/Lo $4 Ante – 4 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

3rd Street: (0.64 SB)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 ____Seat 1 completes____Seat 1 calls
Hero: J J 8 ___Hero raises___Hero calls
Seat 4: xx xx 2 ____Seat 4 brings in for $8____Seat 4 3-bets
Seat 5: xx xx 4 ____Seat 5 folds

4th Street: (9.64 SB) (3 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 3 ____Seat 1 raises____Seat 1 calls
Hero: J J 8 J ___Hero bets___Hero 3-bets
Seat 4: xx xx 2 T ____Seat 4 calls____Seat 4 calls

5th Street: (9.32 BB) (3 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 3 6 ____Seat 1 raises
Hero: J J 8 J 4 ___Hero bets___Hero calls
Seat 4: xx xx 2 T 4 ____Seat 4 calls____Seat 4 calls

6th Street: (15.32 BB) (3 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 3 6 9 ____Seat 1 raises____Seat 1 calls
Hero: J J 8 J 4 2 ___Hero bets___Hero 3-bets
Seat 4: xx xx 2 T 4 3 ____Seat 4 calls____Seat 4 folds

7th Street: (22.32 BB) (2 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 3 6 9 xx____Seat 1 calls
Hero: J J 8 J 4 2 2 ___Hero bets

Final Pot: 24.32 BB
Seat 1 mucks K 8 7 3 6 9 8
Hero shows J J 8 J 4 2 2 (HI: a full house, Jacks full of Twos)
Hero wins 24.28 BB
(Rake: $2.00)