There are some general and workable approaches to playing stud poker and anyone that is new to stud poker should learn and memorize it and apply it.  Most of the guidelines of playable hands and the winning hands are the deciding factors to making any stud poker strategy.  When you get your pockets arrive at the winning hand you can make with your pocket.  For all pockets you will have a set of hands that you will make.  Some will qualify for winning while some will not.  Just extract out the hands that will qualify for winning and see the probabilities of making it with your said pockets.