Professional Gamblers: Why you shouldn't chase straights.

Chasing Straights in a game of 7 Card Stud is a great way to lose some cash. The odds are very much against it happening, and in the later rounds, when the betting heats up, the odds of drawing a straight are just too slim to make it a smart move. Ever. The odds of drawing a straight when you are already holding 4-to-a-straight is 5.7 to 1 against you.

Just think for a second how long you have to stay in a hand in hoping for that straight. If it doesn't happen in the first 5 cards, you need to spend some money (usually) to cross over to sixth street. If 6th street doesn't make your hand, some more money spent and you see 7th street. Meanwhile, the betting is heating up, the stakes become higher, and it's costing you more and more just to see another card, and the odds are low that you will.

When you're holding 4-to-a-straight, you're holding nothing but slight potential. For the few times that you actually do make the straight, there will be dozens of hands that don't make it, and probably a lot of money lost. The best strategy is to fold. Don't chase a straight. Do hold on to your money for hands with better odds. Your bankroll will benefit from this strategy.

Probability of Making your Hand - 3 Cards to Come

If you have:

• 4 Open ended straight: 1.33 to 1
• 4 Closed end straight: 3.27 to 1
• 4 Flush: 1.86
• 3 of a kind, probability of making either a full-house or
  a four-of-a-kind: 1.56 to 1
  
  
  

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