7-CARD STUD

Played a $20 tourney for kicks. The only stud I have ever played has been at the home games. I have never read books on strategy, so I was dependent on my basic poker skills to carry me to the money. I did a lot of folding unless I liked my first three cards. I got caught a couple of times betting two pair against better hands - well, one of the hands drew out on me with a better two pair on seventh street. Twice I was forced to pick a hand to make a stand, and both times my two pair held up. The death blow came when my first four cards were TJQK and nothing ever happened, despite my insistance on putting my chips in the pot. I paired my tens on the river, but I folded and saved a few hundred dollars for the next hand. I finally died with a pair of eights against three opponents whom I couldn't raise out of the pot. My eights became eights and deuces, but it was not enough. I finished 17 of 38. I'm pleased to have made it into the top half of finishers and I had fun trying a new tournament. It was well worth the $22.