Stud Hi/Lo: Fourth Street

“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

After examining starting hands (third street) in the last three lessons, this lesson looks at fourth street. The main question that must be examined is if you have a good hand that catches bad, should you fold? A secondary question is if you have a good hand that catches a good card, should you limit the field (if you can do so)?

Have You Improved?

Let’s assume you started with (3â™  4â™  )5â™  . On fourth street you catch the 2â™  . That’s as good a fourth street card as possible and you can bet (or raise) to your heart’s content. Just remember that all you have is a draw. It may be a great draw (you have a flush draw, a straight draw, and a low draw), but you can still catch three bricks in a row and have nothing. That’s the reality of stud high/low.

Catching good is a card that both extends your core draw (straight or flush) and your low draw (e.g. 6♣ ; the 2♠ is a great card because it extends three draws). A decent card is one that extends either your core draw or your low draw. For example, the J♠ or 8♠ with the above starting hand would be a decent card. A brick is a card that adds nothing to the hand (e.g. K♦ ).

There are two other types of good cards you can pick up. You can pair up a hole card. This is very deceptive for your opponents. In the above example, if you catch the 3♦ it looks like you have four low cards rather than a pair and a three-low. On the other hand, pairing your door card is always scary in stud; if you catch the 5♦ opponents could believe you have three 5’s.

Unfortunately, you don’t always improve on fourth street. Let’s assume you begin with the same great starting hand, (3â™  4â™  )5â™  , but you brick on fourth street, catching the K♦ . You’re facing four opponents, and all have live up-cards. The 2♥ catches the 6â™  , the 6♣ picks up the 7♣ , the Jâ™  pairs with the J♥ , and the 7♥ catches the A. The pair of jacks bets, the A7 calls, and you must act next. Should you call?

Obviously, the fact that you bricked is important; additionally, all of your opponents caught good cards-the worst possible result. If you know that your opponents are passive, taking one more card is not horrible; however, it’s not great. Coming from behind is always more difficult than being the leader and you’re definitely behind.

Let’s change what the opponents catch. The 2♥ bricks with the Q♦ , the 6♣ still gets the 7♣ , the Jâ™  pairs with the J♥ , but the 7♥ bricks with the 10♦ . Again, the pair of jacks bets and the 10♦ 7♥ calls. Should you call?

Besides the fact that two of your opponents bricked, there’s another subtle difference in the two hands-none of your opponents caught spades. Given that it’s almost certain that the call by the 10♦ 7♥ is wrong (putting dead money into the pot), a call by you now looks reasonable. But I have a rule that I follow in stud high/low, that I strongly suggest you also follow if you play on in fourth street with one brick: fold on fifth street if you brick again (unless a bluffing opportunity arises, and these are quite rare in low limit stud high/low).

Let’s look at one last example of a decent hand that catches a decent (but not) great card on fourth street. You had the bring-in with (85)2, five players calling your bring-in. On fourth street, you catch the 6♣ ; the other hands are (moving around the table): Kâ™  Jâ™  , A♥ 3♦ ; 7♦ Jâ™  , 3♦ 2♣ , and 8♦ 9♦ . The A3 bets, the J7 folds, and the 32 and 98 call. Should you call, raise or fold?

A fold is clear. You will need a miracle to win the high, and playing for miracles isn’t good poker. And in stud high/low, playing for half the pot when you’re also undoubtedly not the best low draw is bad poker, too. Sure, you have a draw for low; however, either the A3 or 32 is ahead of you (or both). This has become a trap hand, and folding now will extricate you from the trap.

High Hands

Let’s assume you start with a decent high hand, (A♦ A♥ )9♥ . On fourth street you catch the 10â™  ; your four opponents’ up-cards are: 5♣ 7♦ , 3♦ 10♥ , 2♣ 7â™  , and 6♣ 3♥ . On third street, the 2 had brought in the action and you completed the betting. On fourth street you’re first to act. Should you bet or check?

I would bet, hoping to limit the field somewhat. Note that you have a one-way hand-you cannot make a low. I’m quite wary about this hand, though; you’re up against three low draws and you now are hoping for half the pot. Indeed, that’s the biggest problem with high hands in stud high/low. I would continue, though, because the typical “high” winner is two pair, and you’re halfway to the best possible two pair. The danger exists that one of your opponents could make a straight.

Of course, if you start with a high hand and catch a good card (making two pair or trips), it’s essential that you continue betting. In stud high/low, high hands cannot afford to give opponents free cards.

Improved Trash

The last hand type we’ll cover in this lesson is when you start with a trash hand (having had the bring-in) and you improve. Of course, if you start with a trash hand and you don’t improve, fold. Here, though, let’s assume you had the bring-in with (Q♣ 6â™  )2♦ . Four players called your bring-in. On fourth street, the hands are now: (Q♣ 6â™  )2♦ 3♦ , 4♥ A♥ , 4â™  9â™  , 7♥ 2♣ , and 5♣ J♣ . The A4 bets, the 94 folds, the 72 and the J5 call. Should you call, raise or fold?

 

While you caught almost as good a card as possible, I think folding is correct here because you don’t have much of a chance for high. While you now have a three-low, there’s only two fours and three fives left in the deck. I’m suspicious that the J5 has either a pair or a flush draw (he called when he caught a brick). I don’t like drawing when I’m behind on the low and have no real chance for high.

Stud high/low is a game of patience, and of catching cards. Continuing on when you brick is a good way to loosen your wallet.

In the next lesson we’ll look at fifth street. The betting limits double, and those who brick really pay if they stick around.

QUIZ

In this quiz we will look at some fourth street situations in seven-card stud high/low. Assume that you’re playing in a $10/$20 stud high/low game with a $1 ante and a $3 bring-in.

  1. You brought in the action with (4♣ 5♠ )3♥ . To your disappointment, no one completed. On fourth street, the remaining hands are: (4♣ 5♠ )3♥ 8♠ , 3♠ A♦ , 9♣ 9♥ , 7♦ Q♣ , and 8♥ 4♠ . The pair of nines bets $10, the Q7 folds, and the 84 calls. Except for the cards you can see, all of your cards are live. Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  2. Assume the same hand as in problem 1 except that on fourth street you brick, catching the Kâ™  . Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  3. Assume the same hand as in problem 1 except that your hole cards are the 6♦ and J♣ . Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  4. Assume the same hand as in problem 1 except that on fourth street you catch the Aâ™  . Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  5. On third street you called a completion bet. Now, on fourth street, your hand becomes (6♥ 7♣ )8♠ 9♠ ; your opponents hold 2♠ 3♣ , K♥ 7♠ , 4♦ 4♥ , and 2♥ Q♦ . The pair of fours (who made the completion bet) bets $10, the Q2 folding. Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  6. Assume the same hand as in problem 5 except that instead of catching the 9â™  , you catch the 5â™  . Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  7. Assume the same hand as in problem 5 except that instead of catching the 9♠ , you catch the Q♥ . Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  8. On third street, you brought in the action with (9♥ 7♠ )2♣ , with three players calling. On fourth street, the hands are: (9♥ 7♠ )2♣ J♦ , 6♠ 5♥ , 4♠ Q♣ , and 7♣ 8♦ . The Q4 checks, the 87 checks, you check, but the 65 bets $10. The Q4 folds and the 87 calls. Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  9. Assume the same hand as in problem 8 except that you catch the 3♦ on fourth street. The betting remains the same. Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?
  10. Assume the same hand as in problem 8 except that you catch the 9♦ on fourth street; again, the betting remains the same. Do you (a) fold, (b) call, or (c) raise to $20?

 

 

 

ANSWERS: 1) B; Enough players are in the hand to make continuing reasonable. Folding is also ok (you did not catch good, and others did; your chances of making high aren’t great). However, you can still scoop, so I’d stick around. 2) A; You bricked, and others didn’t. Fold. It really is that easy. 3) A; You have a trash hand. Folding is clear. 4) C; You are almost certainly leading for low, and have four cards to the wheel. Sure, there will be days when you will go brick-brick-brick, but you’re quite likely to get something out of this pot. 5) B; You bricked, in the sense that you did not catch a low card. However, you did make a four-straight and you still have a three-low. Additionally, only one of your opponents caught good. The danger is, though, that the 32 may raise. Still, I’m seeing fifth street with this hand. 6) B; If my four-low and four-straight were lower, I’d raise. Here, a call seems right. 7) A; I brick, I’m done. I’m trailing for both low and high-folding is very clear. 8) A; This was a trash hand, and I picked up a trash card to boot on fourth street. 9) A; Yes, the 3? was a good card to catch on fourth street. But your hand is still trailing for low and high. Indeed, you have no real draw for high. Folding is clear. 10) A; Yes, your pair of nines is likely leading for high. However, you have almost no chance for low. Folding is very clear with this one-way hand.