In my vast experience during my 3 weeks of playing at pokerstars, I met some of the absolute worst 7 Card Stud players I have ever seen.

Others have commented likewise in their in poker blogs. I have had to adjust my playing strategy to account for just how bad they are. I lost a bundle at first because I was TAG, kept firing on all streets, and one of the four calling stations would fill their draw on 6th or 7th to beat my aces up, etc. My AF on 3rd is now down around 0.4, with AF >3 on 5th street on. Seems to be working.

It is absolutely astonishing how many players call on 5th and fold on 6th. Must be allergic to money. I only play the 1/2 7 Card Stud at pokerstars while clearing the bonus. The Full Tilt bonus does not clear fast enough at that limit, and I made what is probably a tactical error by signing up for a 100% to $300 signup bonus at Interpoker, and I need 3000 MPP to clear it. I have been clearing 100 points per day for the last week at 2/4 Texas Hold’em, during noon nap time which is prime time in Europe, with mixed results at the tables. This morning I was stuck $130 before a miracle comeback where I posted a $6 profit and cleared 125 points. Only 2100 points to go.

I heard that the low limit 7 Card Stud players at Paradise are even worse. And there is no ante in the .5/1 game. The same passive/aggressive game strategy applies, but hand selection can be even tighter.

I won a Pokerstars $7 MTT yesterday consisting of 1250 people and paying $2,250.

There were many hands I played well, and some I did not. Fortunately on a very key hand a couple of levels before the money, I got pretty lucky. I don’t think you can win such a large field tourney unless you are lucky a few times. It does not mean that you do not need skill, but you also need luck.

I raised from under the cutoff with KQ off suit, and got called by the big blind.

The Flop came AQ7 rainbow and he led the whole pot right out into me. I thought for a minute, and I just couldn’t bring myself to believe he would play an Ace like this, definitely not a big ace like big slick.

For one thing the stacks were of a reasonable size and he was a pretty aggressive player, so I thought he would have reraised me pre-flop with a big ace.

I also thought he would elect to check raise me with a smaller ace, because at that level on that flop he was probably going to get a continuation bet from me on the flop.

I raised him all in, and he called in about 2 seconds and flips over an ace jack. Luckily I spiked a queen on the turn to win the hand and eventually went on to win this tournament.

I guess I need to work on my hand reading abilities. The tournament is a great value. I think there were only about 500 people left after the first break, a great overlay.

You can play these tournament too at Pokerstars. If you have not yet signed up, note that there is not such a thing as PokerStars rakeback. But instead they have an internal VIP program that more than compensate for this.

I’m actually pretty good, but luck doesn’t hurt once in a while. Overall luck evens out, and it is skill that will determine your bankroll. Study the game and practice, and the money will follow.