Poker Strategy - Playing Middle Streets In Stud

Stud Poker Strategy Articles

Playing Middle Streets in Stud

You're a stud player and you are well grounded with respect to starting hand requirements. While this will give you a great start in your seven card stud poker game, it is not enough to make you a winning player. You'll also know how to handle fourth, fifth and sixth streets. Here are some tips on how to handle the middle streets in seven card stud.

Fourth Street
Your goal on fourth street depends on where you are in the hand. If you think you have the best hand on fourth street, for example you have a pair larger than any showing up card, you should probably make an effort to thin the field. Even if someone has a higher pair, if you can get heads up with them and catch a second pair, you are likely to win, which is not as true if you are facing multiple opponents. The best way to thin the field is not always by betting.

It is often difficult to get opponents to fold for a single bet if their hand has any potential, because multi way seven card stud pots grow very quickly.

If there is an exposed pair, a double bet is possible, which may knock out opponents. If not, you might try for a check raise. If you think a player to your right may bet, you can check, let them bet, and then raise. Now any player between the two of you will be facing two bets, and be forced to fold without a strong hand. If you think someone to your left is looking to bet, bet first and let them make it two bets. If your hand is very powerful, you may wish to do the opposite. Check so that someone on your left bets, then raise, or bet so that someone on your right will bet. Everyone who called one bet will now feel tied on for the other bet, and you will get more action.

Fifth Street
In fifth street, it is again important to try to knock players out if you are best. Here is where drawing hands will make their decision as to whether or not to invest a significant amount of chips in the hand, so you want to make it as costly as possible. If you have a drawing hand, you should realize if you call on fifth street, you need to be prepared to call all the way to the river. If you still need two cards to make your hand, you should let the hand go if there is any heat. If you only need one, and your hand figures to be the best if you hit it, you will usually go all the way unless someone's board is obviously devastating to your hand (you have a flush draw and someone has three kings showing, for example).

Sixth Street
Sixth street play is usually pretty simple. If your hand is made and your opponent still appears to be drawing, bet. If you are drawing, or if you think your opponent has made his draw, it's usually correct to check and call. Playing middle streets are a key element to your stud success. Learning how to handle the action on your fourth, fifth, and sixth cards should ensure that you drag your share of big pots.

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