The most important factor in 7 Card Stud Strategy is card memory and being able to analyse the up cards showing around the table in addition to your own. The first three cards dealt are critical in determining how to proceed, depending on the options they give you for forming a strong hand before showdown.

The first step is to identify your lowest card and compare it to the up cards on the table. If it's higher or if all your cards are higher than the cards showing on the table, you're in pretty good shape to start. Recognizing if your hand has the potential for further improvement is also essential. Let's take a look at several starting hands.

1. Three of a Kind

To start the game with a three of a kind is an almost guaranteed winner. In this case, you have to bet carefully in order to draw out the game and therefore win more money from the other players. In Third Street, it's best to play it modestly and call in order to hide what you have rather than scaring off the other players right away.

2. High Pair + High Card

This is a decent starting hand with a good chance of improving later on. In this position, it's good to make an opening bet or even raise in order to eliminate the most players as possible early on. The idea here is that your hand still needs to improve in order to guarantee a win, so the quicker you get rid of competition, the better. The ideal would be to have an open high card that ranks higher than the other up cards in addition to the high pair.

3. Three Card Flush

Three cards from the same suit form a great hand, but hand strength is dependant on future improvement to be worth anything. Calculating the odds here is not a bad idea; you have a 74% chance on each future turn to get the right cards to complete your flush. Look around the table and check if there are players who have up cards from the suit you need. If there are more than two, your chances are lower for completing the flush. Assuming that your chances are looking good, then the ideal hand would be to have a high card as your door card, which may indicate to the other player that you have a high pair if you raise rather than a potential flush. This can help in winning more money later on. If you actually do end up having a pair as well as the flush, then you're in even better shape with the possibility of getting trips or two pairs.

4. Three Card Straight

Starting off with a three card straight is definitely not bad, but it isn't exactly easy to complete later on. Your odds are a little better if its an outside straight rather close-ended, or if your connectors are high then at least you'll have the chance of making a high pair if the straight doesn’t come through. Be aware if any of the players are working on a flush, which may beat out your hand and therefore adjust your betting strategy accordingly.

5. Door Card Ace

As mentioned earlier, if your door card is higher than all the others, you start off at advantage. In Third Street, it's important not to raise on a door card Ace if you don't have anything to back it up with. The reason has to do with long-term strategy. If you don't raise on a door card Ace and fold because of a weak hand, you will be seen as playing straightforward. The next time you have an Ace as a door card with a strong hand and raise, then this will fortify your position. How does this help? If in the same game you find yourself with an Ace later on but with a weak hand, you can raise and the other players will most likely believe you have a good hand and fold if they can't match up.

By this point, the game is still up for grabs and the amount of money in the pot is minimal. Knowing the right card hands for calling or raising is important, as well as knowing when it's best to fold to avoid losing unnecessary money in later rounds. Take a look around and see what your competition looks like. Decisions should be made by comparing your hand to their up cards and observing their betting patterns.

If a player on Fourth Street is showing a pair, you already have to be careful. They may have trips or a two pair, and if not, they have the potential of forming better hands in the upcoming rounds. If you have less than a pair and no out options such as a flush or connectors, then fold. If you have a split pair that is less than the one showing, fold (don't waste your money). If you have a high split pair, 4 card flush, straight, or three of a kind, then you're in a pretty good position and it's worth it to bet or even raise and re-raise if the player before you makes a double-bet.

By Fifth Street, if you've managed to complete a flush, straight, three of a kind or better, your hand is already made and you can only improve it further in the next two streets. You're also in a good position if you're showing a pair of Aces as well as having the possibility of forming a flush. Here are some odds for completing certain hands after Fifth Street:

YOUR HAND	IDEAL HAND	ODDS AGAINST COMPLETING
Four to a Flush	Flush	2 to 1
Four to a Straight	Straight	2 to 1

By Sixth Street, your hand should pretty much be set if you've remained in until now. Quick odds for completing a flush or straight at this point are as follows:

Let's assume that you have a high split pair with an Ace showing as an up card, and after looking at all the four up card combinations showing around the table, you conclude that the highest hand anyone can make is a split pair. This is the time to raise, since everyone will assume that you have a pair of Aces. The goal is to remove other players from the game who may threaten you at the River. Anyone who calls your bet who remains in the game probably has open-ended flushes or straights, or is less experienced and hoping for trips. If another player is showing a pair in their up cards and decides to raise, there is a good chance they have trips and you should be careful. Either call or fold, depending on their playing history.

If you've decided to stay in the game up to this point, the question remains whether to raise the bet or call. If the remaining players are not showing any possible threats to your strong hand, raise them. Either they will fold or call, which will only increase the pot. Be suspicious if they raise after receiving their final card if their up cards are not threatening. They may be bluffing to try and get you to fold, or they've managed to complete a really good hand. Compare their actions to previous bets they’ve made before deciding if to fold, match their bet, or re-raise them.