Hello,

I primarily play NLH, but have been dabbling in other poker variants. The other night i played some $8/16 short handed stud8 and was hoping to get some feedback on my play. I wrote out my thought process on all streets, any constructive feedback is much appreciated.

HAND 1: 4 handed

Hero: Ad 6h [4c] – bring in/ call
Villain 1: X X [9d]- calls/ calls
Villain 2: XX [Jd]- completes
Villain 3: XX [Kc]- folds

My plan was to raise villain 2, but now I want to keep villain 1 in the hand with possibly a very marginal holding. It may still be better to raise here, since these players are unlikely to fold, but I'm not sure how strong a hand I need to raise here in this spot.

4th ST
Hero: Ad 6h 4c [4s] -bet/ call
Villain 1: X X 9d [3s]- call / call
Villain 2: X X Jd [Qc]- 2 bet

They both appear to have marginal hands and are potentially blocking each others draws. I think my best play is to call the raise from villain 2 after I bet, I keep villain 1 in and putting in a raise seems pointless/ bad here.

5th ST
Hero: Ad 6h 4c 4s [6d] – check /2b
Villain 1: X X 9d 3s [Td] - check/ fold
Villain 2: X X Jd Qc [7s] – bet /call

My plan is to c/r, I expect villain 1 to bet here given his action on the previous street. I'm getting 2 bets this way and possibly more if villain 1 continues, but not sure if it's better to lead here or if there is any merit to c/c here.

6th St

Hero: Ad 6h 4c 4s 6d [3h] - bet
Villain 2: X X Jd Qc 7s [3d] – call

This is a good spot for me, I look to have the best high hand and have potential to scoop with a low = bet. (while playing this hand I assumed he would raise a strong hand, but now I think he is more likely to call given what my up cards are)

7th st
Hero: Ad 6h 4c 4s 6d 3h [Ts]- bet
Villain 2: X X Jd Qc 7s 3d [x]- call

I missed the low, but I believe my high is beating his likely one pair hand here, given villain showed 9T and I hit a T on 7th street, I believe my opponent is way less likely to have a draw, so I bet for value on 7th. Having discussed this hand with friend, our thinking is now that this hand should be a check because I'm only slightly ahead equity versus hands that he is calling with. However, this math might be wrong.


HAND 2: 3 handed

Villain 1: X X [2s]- bring in / call
Villain 2: X X [9h]- complete / call
Hero: 6s 6d [3h]- 2b

I think the 3rd street action is fine, my hand rates to be best and has good potential to possibly scoop on a decent run out.

4th St
Hero: 6s 6d 3h [Jc]- bet
Villain 1: X X 2s [Tc]- call
Villain 2: X X 9h [4c]- call

Not the best card for us, but I still rate to be ahead here and think my hand warrants a bet.

5th St
Hero: 6s 6d 3h Jc [9d]- bet
Villain 1: X X 2s Tc [8s]- call
Villain 2: X X 9h 4c [5h]- call

Those are both reasonably good cards for my opponents and not a great card for me. That being said, I think I'm still a favorite vs them so I chose to bet.

6th ST
Hero: 6s 6d 3h Jc 9d [3d]- bet/ call
Villain 1: X X 2s Tc 8s [As]- 2b
Villain 2: X X 9h 4c [6c]- call

I really don't like my bet on this street, I think check/calling is the better option. Villains could have a made low and free-rolling on a re-draw. Seems like check/call is the correct play?

7th ST
Hero: 6s 6d 3h Jc 9d 3d [Ac]- check/?
Villain 1: X X 2s Tc 8s As [X]- bet
Villain 2: X X 9h 4c 6c [X]- call

I ended up folding, which I think should be a call given the pot odds, I need to be good something like 12% of the time. So it feels like i made a ton of bad plays on this hand.

Calling to peel hand #2 only on third and folding 4th. In Stud 8, the other player is very likely to have split nines or better as most don't complete on a draw to high only. Your hand is one way and you are behind.

Short handed E is interesting as hell.

Hand 1 you bet into two high cards w/(xx)44 showing on Fourth, so your c/r will whiff some of the time when you have the best hand (JQ can be raising 4th for a free one with hands like JTJQ) but is still correct. Sixth you should almost never get raised by a competent player.

Good value bet on river not just for the reasons you gave. Two small is not a cinch, but will get called by basically anything better than a pair of Fours short-handed. The reason you can't check is that villain should bet everything that beats you but can't raise if you bet because your range with that board includes really big hands. So a check costs you money while a bet does not.

Hand 2: The raise on Third is optimistic. I'd like it more with a 2-flush but even then I'd prefer flatting, especially if villain showing a Nine can have nothing and will barrel regardless what you catch. Folding is fine, calling is fine.

When he calls your raise, you should be behind to split 99 way more often than beating something else. On Fourth your bet should not make the other low door fold a 3-low because if you have a high hand he is robbing equity from both you and the Nine. I think c/c with a live overcard and c/f because you're losing are both fine on Four

I c/f Fifth. You caught a dead card, the other low door caught a card that beats your pair, and if you were ahead of the Nine until now it's because he played a hand like 789 which now has you in bad shape 3-ways. The only hand you want him to have is a 3-flush with 6h or 4h.

The rest of the hand just looks expensive to me.

yeah was gonna make a post but basically agree about vbet stuff^

Good post elec.

Hand 1:

Agree with your play on 4th and 7th; however, I would just lead 5th for value because Villain 2 should generally not be betting here. Also 4th street could make for an interesting xR to knock Villain 1 out of hand and make Villain 2 think you may have trips and will have a harder time calling 5th against you if you hit low.

Hand 2:

The hand feels a bit messy overall but I agree with electrical that you should just call 3rd; however, I would also peel any brick on 4th vs unimproved Villains. Your equity with your current hand (663J) vs potential Villain hands like A27T and 5994 is only 2% less if it were against two higher 4th street cards like A27K and 599Q.

As played, I don't mind betting 4th for deception because I doubt you will get raised and I am peeling 4th.

5th street can get checked around but if Villain 1 bets and Villain 2 calls OR Villain 2 bets, I am folding.

6th street is fine as played and I may even sigh call 7th as Villain 2 may have backed into a low.