If another player has better cards than you then you shouldn’t bother to continue playing. If your cards aren’t as good as that of another poker player then it would be best to quit though you might have a pair or something better. Although luck may favor you and you could win but then the odds are against it.
Typically in stud poker games the wagers get higher in every subsequent round. If a player is still playing in this round then you should determine whether the kitty is large enough to take a risk with the cards the player has. Another way to look at this is that he is in essence buying a card when he places a wager.
In this case it would be advisable for him to determine whether it is worth his while to match his wager in anticipation of getting a card that would better his game. Of course this is only so when you have considered all the aspects, for example, are the cards that you need still available and the kind of cards that the other player has.
The player should know how to make the most of his concealed card. If you have one card from a pair, which is concealed and one that is showing then this is better than two exposed pairs. If for example a player has an ace in the hole (this is where the expression originated) and one exposed card then you have an edge rather than when you have both aces exposed.
The other players won’t know whether you actually have and ace in the hole or whether you are pretending. During the last round if you feel your chances of winning are great then you should bet aggressively (it is not guaranteed).
Example
Wager: Betting $1/$2. You will find games of this value at the smaller games.
CARDS DEALT IN THE BEGINNING:
| Hole cards | Up cards | |
| PLAYER 1 | 9♠ | 6♠ |
| PLAYER 2 | 6♣ | A♥ |
| PLAYER 3 | K♦ | 8♥ |
| PLAYER 4 | 10♠ | 10♥ |
| PLAYER 5 | 8♠ | J♥ |
| PLAYER 6 | 2♦ | K♠ |
| PLAYER 7 | 6♥ | 6♦ |
Wager:
Player 2: This player is the first to place a wager as he has the highest card.
Player 3: Quits. Having seen the king in player 6’s hand.
Player 4: This player matches the bet as he has a pair of tens which is a good hand but very wisely he doesn’t expose himself by increasing the wager.
Player 5: Quits.
Player 6: Matches the bet anticipating he might get a pair of kings.