I have found, however, that stud still exists in casinos and in home games from time to time as part of a rotation game.  “Rotation games” are poker games where the specific game you're playing changes every thirty minutes or so.  It’s kind of like playing “Dealer’s Choice” except the players decide in advance which games they’ll play -- and also decide the order in which those games will be played.

H.O.R.S.E. is the classic rotation game.  Every thirty minutes the game changes from Holdem to Omaha (usually Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better for low, but sometimes Omaha hi only) to Razz (7-card stud low only), Stud (7-card stud hi only) and finally to Eight-or-Better (7-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or better for low).  The rotation repeats continuously.

This is not the only rotation game, of course.  I’ve played S.H.O.E and H.O.E.  For high-low specialists, O.E. is especially popular.  Sometimes players decide to play one game a few times in each rotation.  I played in a game where players preferred Holdem poker to all of the other games.  And they didn’t care for Razz.  So they played H.H.O.S.E.  You get the idea.

These games can be an interesting switch from just playing one game -- while avoiding the sometimes annoying variations that come up in Dealer’s Choice.  It also prevents players from forgetting the game or asking repeatedly what the game is or what the rules are.  I like them, especially in a casino with professional dealers who can get out many hands of each game before it’s switched.  As a stud player I often have no other way of playing stud in a casino.

I found rotation games when I was last in Las Vegas.  I played a $6/$12 game with Stud, Razz, and Stud8, along with Omaha, Omaha8, and Holdem.  ROOSH?  I also played $3/$6 Stud8 and Stud over at Treasure Island. I guess you could call it ES.  They offered us a choice of about 45 games.  The next time I go there I need to try some of the weirder variations that rarely are spread in a public card room.  Ever played Budogi?  How about double flop Omaha or Crazy Pineapple or Watermelon or Triple Draw Lowball?

There are some strategy considerations you'll need to make that go beyond those for the individual games.  Add these pointers to your arsenal and you’ll have a leg up on all of your opponents who don’t think much about what makes rotation games different from just playing the individual games.

Players like to think that they are better at some games than they are at others.  And they tend to view others in the game as better than they are at some games.  Figure out which games people think they know best and which players they think are best at other games.  You can exploit this information as I’ll explain.

Players who think they are better at one game tend to play it more aggressively and wildly than the other games. Let’s say you’re playing H.O.R.S.E., for example.  One player sees himself more as a stud poker specialist than a Holdem player.  When the game gets to Stud, expect him to bet very aggressively -- as if to prove his mettle.  He’s been waiting for two hours to get to his game.  He’ll be damned if he’s going to fold every hand.  In fact, if he gets bad cards early he’s almost sure to start playing hyper-aggressively as the round progresses -- even with no cards.  Expect him to bluff and semi-bluff a lot more than optimal.  Play back blandly at him -- checking and calling rather than betting and raising.  Let him initiate and push the betting, making your money by calling with middling hands.  Expect him to have sub-premium hands.

Similarly, if a player views himself as weak compared to others, expect him to fold more.  That seems obvious. Maybe you're saying, “So what?”  But you can exploit this.  Imagine that you’re playing Omaha.  A player to your left thinks of himself as a complete novice.  The bet is folded to you.  Raise with anything and expect him to fold -- since he really feels out of his depth and will defer to your aggression.  Of course, as in the above example, he could be really loaded and play back at you.  But this will be unusual and you can credit him with a strong hand if he does so.  Players who perceive themselves as weak usually don’t get tricky or overly aggressive without very strong hands.

Here are a couple of other pointers that apply generally to all opponents regardless of the game: