For those
who don't already know, Seven High Low Qualify (the shorter
name) is dealt and played like the old favorite Seven Card
Stud with some major differences. The winning high hand of
course splits the pot with the winning low hand, but in order
for the low hand to qualify for half the pot, it must be no
higher than an eight low. With no qualifying low hand, the
high hand wins the whole pot. This happens roughly about half
the time. The basic strategy is to only play the hands that
offer the best shot at winning, or "scooping", the
entire pot. With both high and low action coming in from the
beginning, some very big pots are often built. When you don't
scoop the pot, you try to "escape" with some profit
from half the pot. . Even though Seven High Low is a little
hard to find in regular casino poker rooms, the best games
are easily found online. This is a good game.
So what's
so "challenging" about it? . . Well here it is.
Typically,
starting out you'll read something about how to play. . It
will seem easy enough so you give it a try. You get in one
of the low limit games and after scooping a pot or two and
winning several split pots you end up losing money. For the
next several sessions, this not only happens most of the time
but you also notice that you have plenty of company in the
losing money business. On the other hand, you become aware
of a select few players that seem to patiently end up winning
most of the time. The other players fear them.
This is when
self doubts begin to appear and you start questioning yourself.
Am I playing too tight or too loose? When should I give up
on two pair? Should I play that ace in the hole even though
there is only one low card to go with it? How come I see others
winning with bad starting hands etc. etc.?
The only
answer I know to questions like these is to become a serious
student of the game. Buy books by Ray Zee and other experts.
Learn a lot and play a lot at the low levels until you get
very good.
|
