Here are represented some opinions about Stud strategy from Gambling forum.

1. First three cards (2 down 1 up) you need to look at whether you have a pair, a possible straight or a potential flush. One of the ways of doing that is looking to see the up cards of everyone around the table. Look to see how many of your “necessary cards” are already gone. From that you will know whether to call or fold.

2. Next you want to watch what is coming down on 4th and 5th streets. Are they the cards you need. Are most of your cards to make a great hand gone already or not. If they are then fold.

3. If by 5th street you don’t have a made hand then you are just plain gambling that what you do have will stand up.

These are probably the best three points I can give you at this time. If you want more I can put more in. But try playing the game using this guideline to start with and see if that helps.

Actually 7 Card and 5 Card Stud are probably the easiest games to learn because you do not have any community cards. You are strictly playing your cards against the other opponents cards.

What makes it easy is that you get to see at least 4 of their cards to compare against your cards. This gives you something to measure your hand by and if you don’t have a hand by 4th street and someone is betting and showing and Ace and a King then you can be sure that they have possibly doubled up on one of them. However, if by 4th Street you have a 4 cards str8 and are drawing to and outside str8 then it is worth seeing 5th Street. If it doesn’t happen for you then and the big bettor is coming out big again… Then unless you really want to gamble at this point on the drawing of the right card you must fold in the face of adversity.

That was one of the first games I learned and I still love 7-stud. When you are learning it is really nice to see what each person could have by what is “up”. You can also compare - if there is a player who is ahowing a potential straight flush, and you can see that another player has the fill card then you know you are ok if you have the nut flush. So that does make it easier if you pay attention.