A while back, we talked about raising with big pairs on third street in seven-card stud. We agreed that generally, you should raise with those hands, with several exceptions noted. A couple of weeks later, two young guys approached me in one of our local card emporiums and started with the "You ask him," "No, you ask him" routine. Finally, one of them blurted out their concern about raising on third street in low-limit games with no ante, and the discussion was on.

They pointed out that in games with an ante, a third-street raise makes more sense because there is something in the pot to win right away. In no-ante games, especially if you make your raise from an early position, there's no money in the pot. Of course, they were correct, but I pointed out that they had lost sight of the objective. You usually want to play big pairs against one or two players.

When you're playing low-limit stud, your big pairs generally should win the small pots but not necessarily the big pots. That's how it figures to be.

With five or six players in a hand, you must improve to win, and usually you must improve to something that will beat a straight or flush. So, your objective is to knock out as many of those drawing hands as you can, right there on third street. You'd like to play your big pair against a player with a smaller pair, and/or against one drawing hand. Against just one hand, your big pair is a favorite. Against five or six players, your pair is a favorite against each of them individually, but against the collective group, your pair becomes a dog. Cut down the competition to give yourself a better chance of winning.

I'd like to collect 75 cents for every player I've heard say, "I hate aces - it seems like I always lose with them." Well, usually you lose with aces because you play them against too many players, and then get married to them (the aces, not the players). If four or five players are pounding the pot with maximum bets, your aces are generally history - and so is your bankroll if you stubbornly hang on without the required improvement.

So, I repeat: In low-limit stud, your big pairs generally should win the small pots but not necessarily the big pots. Tattoo that to your thumbnail and look at it every time you pick up a big third-street pair. It will save you big bucks. (You can thank me later.)

Change of subject: Here's another of Roy's Rules - It's not a good idea to sit down in a poker game when you have only a short time to play. That can put pressure on you to enter too many pots because you know that you don't have much time. If you take an early beat, you'll feel even more pressure to play more hands. If you're stuck half a stack when your time runs out, you'll be torn between leaving and eating your loss or staying to try to get it back. That's pressure, and it could raise havoc with your personal life. If you are money ahead when the time is up, you'll be tempted to stay because you're doing well - more havoc. Allow yourself enough time to play relaxed. Your nervous system will thank you for it (and you can thank me later).

Random thought: The game of poker is simple, but not easy.

Change of thought: Anticipate, as soon as possible, your next move. I know players who won't look at their holecards until the action gets to them. They say that if they don't know what they have, they can't flash a tell about their hands. I say, if you think you have a tell when you see your holecards, you should fix that instead of depriving yourself of valuable time to consider your range of possible actions.

Usually, your "range of possible actions" will depend upon what takes place before it is your turn to act, and you must be prepared to change your plan. If you have to change, at least you'll have considered the options and have a plan in mind, instead of having to figure it all out when it's your turn to act. Give yourself those few extra seconds. You can do a lot of thinking in that amount of time if you use the time to your advantage.

Random thought: The game of poker is simple, but not easy. (I know, I said that before, but I wanted to make sure you got it.)

I never saw anyone put potato salad on a hot dog before, but to each his own. Now, I must nap. Kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, the author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning, available from Card Player, continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 92.