Elementary inferences about pairs. One way you can count the low cards, in addition to counting those you can see faced on the table (plus, of course, your own hole card(s), which, let us hope, will be low!-see number 1),

is to infer pairs. Why did Smith, with nothing but nice juicy low cards on his board, drop out on that round? The answer will almost always be that Smith's last card paired his hole card! Thus, if a player starts with a five exposed, then draws a three and drops out during that betting round, it's dollars to doughnuts he has a three in the hole.

Such an inference, while easy enough, can be of considerable value in counting the low cards. These special pointers, plus the general techniques dealing with bluffing, position, etc., covered previously, should give you a flying start in any low stud game. The rest is experience in judging hand values and general poker technique and psychology.