Unfortunately,  kings and queens aren’t the gems they are in Stud when you get them in Stud 8  (also called Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better).  Many players,  especially those picking up Stud 8 after having played Stud,  can’t figure out why they leave the game with less than they came in with.   They thought they played the premium pairs beautifully  --  splitting a couple of pots with them,  and losing a couple,  but figuring they played them right.  On the way to the door or as they log off their favorite internet card room,  they wonder why this game can’t be beaten.  What worked at stud should work in stud 8,  shouldn’t it?

The answer is a big no.  The biggest pitfall for too many players who start playing stud 8 is the inability to get away from kings and queens.  Many people at the lower limits will even play tens and jacks,  being used to doing this in Stud.  Such players are a welcome sight for anyone who is good at the game.  When the skilled player starts out with four to the wheel and catches three bricks in a row,  he doesn’t mind at all losing the big pot to the pair of queens who happened to scoop.  This is because he knows he’ll get the money back from that player later in the session,  or over the long run if he or she is a regular in his game. It's clear the other player either hasn’t been able to make the transition to stud 8  --  or just has no concept of how the game should be played.

So, what’s a player to do when dealt the pairs that are oh-so-beautiful in 7-Card Stud but oh-so-dangerous in Stud 8?  There are two options.

One is to always dump them.  This is tough to do,  as you may very well be holding the best hand.  The problem,  though,  is that your likelihood of scooping the pot is greatly reduced when you go high.  When you start out going low  (especially when you hold an ace),  you have a much better chance of scooping.  With kings and queens,  you have to catch four running low cards to qualify for the low half of the pot.  It’s also easier in stud to force players out on later betting rounds because the pot won’t be split.  In Stud 8,  especially at the low limits,  that can be awfully tough to do.  The result?  You’ll be playing your kings or queens hard,  become trapped with the hand  (especially if you make two pair),  cost yourself a lot of money,  and lose a big pot to a low who backed into a pair of aces or aces up.  Certainly,  your big pair will win its fair share of split pots and even scoop on occasion,  but in this game it’s much more difficult to be a winner if you constantly play those kings and queens.  The safe play is to get away from the kings and queens,  especially in loose games,  if you are just getting into stud 8. ...(more)

As you gain experience,  kings and queens can be played from time to time,  but only under the right circumstances.  Key factors are:  1)  position,  2)  the tightness of your game,  3)  the presence of an ace,  4)  what your doorcard is and  5)  what your opponents' doorcards are.

Usually it’s best to be in late position because you know what people will have done by the time the action gets to you.  This is especially true if there’s an ace on the board.  If you’re in late position with your cowboys,  and the ace folds,  you can go ahead and complete the betting because that’s one less ace that you have to worry about.  Early position can also have its benefits,  especially if you are in a tight game and there are few low cards showing.  For instance,  say you have a split pair of kings,  a deuce brings it in and the only low cards yet to act are a seven and an eight.  Here,  go ahead and complete because there are fewer potential low hands that pose a threat to you.

You can also be more willing to play those kings and queens in a tight game where you can steal the antes if you are in late position.  In loose games,  where raises at Third Street fail to eliminate many players,  you become more vulnerable to other players backing into hands.  This is fine in a game where you can win the entire pot,  because you’ll be a long-term winner over poor players,  but it's a losing play in a split-pot game.

An ace also changes the situation.  Any time an ace is yet to act,  the wise move is folding.  The ace is the money card in stud 8 because it can be used for the high and the low.  A raise might get the ace out,  but it’s less likely to work in this game,  so get out of the way.

Doorcards too can help or hurt your situation.  If you’ve got an ace showing with two kings or queens buried,  a raise will be more effective as opponents will put you on the ace.