Question:    If you start with a pair in 7-card stud, does it matter how high the pair is, or if the pair is split or in the hole?

Answer:    How high the pair is, makes a huge difference when you are playing 7-card stud. It largely affects the decision-- when to fold. This is so because when to fold depends on whether your cards are live, how high the pair is and what your position is, which is, in turn, determined by how high the pair is. Also, this hugely matters in getting easy money in seven-card stud. Big pairs are of great value in a 7-card stud and small pairs mean trouble, unless they get turned into trips. It also matters if the pair is hidden: If your hand is (8-8) J and then you hit an eight on 4th street, no one thinks that it can help you, and you're in good position to win a big pot. But if your hand was (8-J) 8, and then you hit an open pair of eights, people will worry about trips or two pair.