There's two syrians that have played a lot in my regular homegames. They are absolutely horrible. One of them has made a small profit once, and huge losses all the other 6 or 7 times. They are way too loose aggressive, will play any two suited against a raise etc. They also bring their ego to the table and seem to think that folding isn't macho. Well this is playing texas, now I have found out that they have a large group of people playing 5 card stud with a crippled deck (32 cards, 2-6 removed). Also, I find out that the worst player in my game is considered the best player in this game...

Now of course they could turn out to be quite gifted at this particular game but as far as I can tell nobody understands pot odds or the likelyhood of catching a certain card or making a hand. They all love chasing and they all love bluffing. They're also all very reckless with money and tend to have a bunch of it (they are hard working and most of them own their own restaurants or other business). This just seems like an absolutely fantastic opportunity... if I knew how to play the game.

I will be invited because my friend, the worst/best player, is obviously out to exact revenge on me and claims I will be slaughtered playing this game... my impression is that this game would suit itself to a more analytical player rather than a super-aggressive bluffer so I'm not really buying into his statement. But where and how do I learn to play this bastard game?

Oh, they also play Texas sometimes with 1/2 blinds and 1000 buy ins... I mean yikes, 500bb stacks? Now THAT seems more like a game for aggressive bluffers than 5CS. Obviously everything is no limit.

So PLEASE if anyone knows anything about this weird game, don't hold back.

Wouldn't a crippled deck make it relatively easier to get a straight, pair, trips etc and harder to get a flush...? Maybe a flush will be harder to get than a FH.

Prima huh... too bad I am about to sign up on Party and then I will move over to FTP... I'll check for games there.