Seven Card Stud Strategy – Fifth Street Trips

Fifth Street is the stage most players reveal what they hold or don’t hold, by paying close attention to their bets you can identify their hand, but notice that at this stage the bets are getting heavier and some players would rather draw here then to go to Sixth Street. Also, players would let go easily over their hands if they yet reached a good hand, it is your job to bluff them and make them pay a little more. Bear in mind that in this stage the money invested in the pot is likely to increase very fast, now it is the time to decide what to do.

If you yet achieved a full-house or four of a kind you still have a good hand, only if no other players have paired their doorcards and it's a high pair. If their pair is of the same suit then they are probably going for a four-Flush, in this case you should raise and drive them off, since they have a strong hand which can beat yours. If your opponents have paired their fourth-street card they are likely to have two pairs, which you would beat easily. Your odds to fill in to a full house are 5:2, which are quite good.

If you've completed to a four-of-a-kind or a full house you must play slow, you do not want to deter your opponents. Make them increase the pot slowly, do not check-raise, this would reveal your trap at once. Call all bets but do not re-raise them, this would spook off your "customers".

These are the steps needed to be taken in Fifth Street in case you have a Trip, remember – at Fifth-Street you are almost certain to win – but not in all cases, be alert to other players' moves at all time.

David Gendam, Editorial, 15th of December, 2005.