Semibluffing a four flush and medium pair at 7 Card Stud

[Holgininho]

This is another hand I found difficult to play. I started with three to a flush, but two cards of my suit were already out. I decided to call the bring in nevertheless, because the table seemed rahter passive. Reasonable?

On 4th street I improved and called. On 5th street the player at seat 7 paused a while before betting. I therefore didn't give him much credit for a strong hand, though the pause could mean a lot of different things. With my pair of eights and the four flush I thought it was a good idea to raise to drive out the other players. I succeeded, and on 6th street I asked myself if I should continue semibluffing. I did, but I'm not sure if that was a good idea. I was out of position, so I couldn't hope to get a free showdown by betting.


7 Card Stud High ($2/$4), Ante $0,25, Bring-In $1 (converter)

3rd Street - (0.88 SB)

Hero: 7: 4: K:___calls
Seat 2: xx xx T:___folds
Seat 3: xx xx A:___calls
Seat 5: xx xx T:___calls
Seat 6: xx xx K:___folds
Seat 7: xx xx 9:___brings-in
Seat 8: xx xx A:___folds

4th Street - (2.88 SB)

Hero: 7: 4: K: 8:___calls
Seat 3: xx xx A: Q:___checks___calls
Seat 5: xx xx T: K:___checks___calls
Seat 7: xx xx 9: A:___bets

5th Street - (3.44 BB)

Hero: 7: 4: K: 8: 8:___checks___raises
Seat 3: xx xx A: Q: 2:___checks___folds
Seat 5: xx xx T: K: 5:___checks___folds
Seat 7: xx xx 9: A: 7:___bets___calls

6th Street - (7.44 BB)

Hero: 7: 4: K: 8: 8: 5:___bets
Seat 7: xx xx 9: A: 7: 2:___calls

River - (9.44 BB)

Hero: 7: 4: K: 8: 8: 5: J:___checks
Seat 7: xx xx 9: A: 7: 2: xx___checks

Total pot: (9.44 BB)

[Icall]

I fold 3rd. 2 spades are dead, you have no connectivity, and a bunch of high cards including an Ace behind you. Easy fold. 3 flushes on 3rd need something else working for them aside from just being suited to warrant playing.

4th is an easy call, you don't want to knock people out.

I like 5th, now that you have a pair and the bets are doubled you want to knock the other players out to increase your equity. 2 medium pair can easily win this on the river HU. Definite raise.

I'd bet 6th if there were any chance he'd fold since the pot is already pretty big. If he calls, which he almost always will its not so bad anyway since I think you have a lot of outs, and are even ahead sometimes. I don't think check/calling is too bad either though since it prevents a raise, has a chance of getting you a free card, and there is practically no fold equity there anyway.

River, check is good. What would you do if he bet? After looking at the whole hand he looks like he had the nut flushdraw all along.

[Holgininho]

[Icall]

[nsidestrate]

3rd is a raise or fold situation. You generally would fold this hand because you have two dead spades and a dead King. However, when you have a high door card, it is often good for metagame reasons to raise first in with a three flush. I almost always raise three flushes with an Ace or King doorcard if I am the first raiser.

I prefer to bet fifth instead of going for the check-raise, but I think it worked out fine.

In my experience, virtually no one folds on sixth street (nor should they), so I don't know that the bluff is useful. If he catches good, you are letting him raise you and I don't think he is going to fold almost ever. I would always check-call here.

[Taardvark]

I fold third also. You've got no secondary draws to speak of here and you are drawing to 9 spades only.

Once you play, fourth street is a call round. Were four flushing now, but another spade has been killed as well so now we've got 7 of 13 in play. 5th I don't think is a betting round but a calling round. It's obvious you are on a flush draw and I don't think the pair on the board is scary to anyone. You have picked up some additional outs so as long as you aren't facing any raises it's safe to continue and see what develops.

6th street is not a betting street also as Nside has elaborated on.

7th street is a clear check down. Not likely your eights are good but no use putting in anymore money. If villian has paired the ace or nine he's pretty much obligated to call based on the odds he's being given.

[Icall]

[Taardvark]