Poker's Sudden Death? Think Again!
Why is Five-card High-low Stud called 'Sudden Death' ?
This is so because a promising low hand may pair up on the fourth or fifth card--- and there is no payoff for finishing in the middle.
To explain the game further, let's say the stakes in a group are one chip ante by each player; two chip limit until a pair shows or the fourth card is dealt; then the limit is increased to four chips.
Two raises per player per round are permitted, and the chip declaration is used.
Now, in this game, let's assume that player G deals. The open cards are You-- 10; B-- K; C-- seven; A-- two; E-- Q; F-- eight; H-- five; and G-- K. B bets. C and A call. E raises. F folds. H calls. D folds. You have a 10 in the hole. Do you raise, call, or fold?
Call, and plan to stay all the way, unless beaten in sight or otherwise convinced you are beaten for high. Five-card High-low Stud is unique among high-low variations that the odds favor going high, if possible, rather than for low.
A high hand cannot worsen, whereas a low hand can.
This time, you deal, with these open cards: B-- K; C-- eight; A-- 10; E-- eight; F-- four; H-- J; G-- seven; and You-- nine. B bets. C calls. A and E fold. F calls. H raises, and G calls. You have an A in the hole--- raise, call, or fold?
Call. You have a good prospects both ways: you may pair your A or catch low cards.
Next, B deals, with these open cards: C-- nine; A-- five; E-- A; F-- Q; H-- three; G-- seven; D-- nine; B-- K. E bets. F fold. H raises, and G calls. You have a J in the hole. Raise, call, or fold?
Fold. The J nine combination is garbage in every variation most Poker experts have ever seen--- except Baseball, where the nines are wild.
C deals. The open cards: A-- six; E-- Q; F-- seven; H-- Q; G-- eight; You-- five; and C-- A. C bets . A, E, F and H call. You have a five in the hole. Raise, call, or fold?
Fold. B will surely stay--- he always does--- and C--- with his open A, probably will. Against so many stayers, your fives are too weak for high; the odds are against your improving. And you would be giving too much of an advantage to those aiming for low.
A deals the third card to four stayers with these open cards: You-- four, two; B-- Q K; A-- J J; H-- K 10. A bets. H folds. You have a two in the hole. Raise, call, or fold?
Raise: try to drive C out. You may be able to steal the low half and, if you catch another two or pair your four, you will probably win the high half.
The way things are going, you could win the whole pot by improving for high. It is unlikely that your raise will be interpreted as indicating a pair.