Options for Playing Quads on Fourth Street; You Might Think Differently

Hi. Come on in. I'm making tuna dogs, hot dogs covered with tuna salad instead of chili. Never mind the sour face, give one a try while we discuss our beloved game.

In fixed-limit seven-card stud games, a player showing a pair on fourth street has the option of making the single fourth-street bet or the double fifth-street bet. For example, in a $5-$10 game, you could bet $5 or $10. Most players will do one or the other, the same each time. Conventional poker wisdom says, make the double bet against good players. Incidentally, I've noticed that strong players tend heavily toward making the double bet against all players. Don't you tend toward anything; think first.

If you pair your doorcard on fourth street and now have four of a kind, whether you bet or not, and make it the double bet or not, depends on factors like your position, how many players you're against who are good or bad, and, mostly, what will look most natural.

If you were the low card with a 3 in an unraised pot and caught another 3 on fourth street, it would look perfectly natural to check. Your opponents would assume you have only the two threes you have showing, which, if that's all you have, you wouldn't bet. Your slow play looks natural.

If you check into a large field, you'll probably get a bet from someone. Even if you don't, you've given all these nice people a chance to catch up and make something – and then you can make some money.

If you had raised on third street with your rolled-up threes, or called a raise and now caught another three here on fourth street, your opponents will most likely put you on two pair or a set. Whether you make the single or double bet still depends on the factors above.

For an example from the other end of the scale, suppose you started with a big rolled-up hand, like three kings, and caught the fourth king on fourth street. Now, your board shows a pair of kings. Should you check, single bet, or double bet? In this spot, what looks most natural can cost you money. The most natural-looking move against a smart player would be the double bet, indicating you're trying to win it right now. But, of course, you're not. You want customers. Against a weak player, the single bet might look like a bargain and get you a call if he has any slim hope of making a hand. Checking against a mixture of strong and weak players would look like you are obviously trying to trap them, which, of course, you are.

But some working players believe their only option is to check, giving opponents a free card and hoping someone catches up enough to give them play. You paid your money, so take your choice.

Change of subject: I know you didn't ask me, but you're still playing too many hands, especially in hold'em. Playing too many marginal hands in marginal situations makes for a good profit margin – for your opponents. Tape this note to the backs of your eyelids: "Gamble comes with every hand – value doesn't come that often." Certainly, the game isn't as much fun if you wait for value. Sometimes, it can be downright boring, but it's good for the profit margin – your profit margin. Ask yourself, "Did I come here to have fun or win money?" Then, act accordingly.

Related question: "Why do you go to the poker room?" Your answer: "To win money, of course." But is that really true?

An interesting experiment would be to go into any big poker room and get everyone, all at once, to stop playing for one minute to answer this question: "How many are here to win money?" Every hand in the room would go up. Fine. Now, tell them to continue playing. Then, go through the room, observing how they play. It will soon become apparent that most of these players are not seriously after the money. Otherwise, they wouldn't be playing the way they do.

The fact of the matter is, most players go to the poker room to play poker, not to make money. There's a big difference. Now, think – really think – about why you go. Happy thinking.

I see your sour face is gone, along with four tuna dogs. Now I'm tired, and require a nap. Take what's left and kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Call 1-800-548-6177 Ext. 03.