Online Poker Strategy Articles

Stud Hi-Lo Strategy - Betting and Playing after Third Street Part 2 Jeff Henry

Alright, so you're comfortable with which starting hands to play. If you stick to my list, you should raise with any hand you play so as not to let the bring-in (the forced first partial bet for the person with the lowest door card) see a free fourth card. If there are any raises in front of you and you have one of listed hands, you could raise or just call and see what your fourth card is. I wouldn't say there is a rule for this, because it depends on the table. In time, you should get a feel for a table and an idea of whether you should re-raise to build a pot. Until then make it two bets with these hands, or three is fine also. Keep in mind you are giving information about your hand strength when you bet. In later articles, I will talk more about advanced strategy. For now, keep it simple until you get comfortable.

OK, so now you have made it to Fourth Street. Always keep in mind the information you gathered from seeing all the door cards, but here's a very solid general rule of thumb to follow:

-If you have four low cards, bet, raise and reraise. Its worth these bets, it's a strong hand, and you want to build the pot, even if you're only splitting it. -If you have three low cards and one brick (useless card for low hands), and you think someone else has four to a low, FOLD. This is because your odds of hitting your low are remote, and even if you do hit your low, it could be second best. -If you're playing three flush cards, and Fourth Street doesn't match the flush draw or a low draw, FOLD. Your odds of hitting your hand are more remote now, don't chase low probabilities. Do you really want to risk a lot of money on a small chance of hitting a very, very strong hand' -If you have two pair, I would check-raise. You are clearly going to be splitting the pot, (unless no one seems to have a low) so you want to build the pot for your split by allowing people to put in one bet before they know you're going to make it cost two or three. People hate to fold for two or three bets after already putting one in, whether it's the right play or not. -If you have four cards to a straight or flush, call, unless you're sure your opponent is playing a high pair. If so, you should raise. Push him out, and make him pay to keep going with his weak high, you have many outs.

Fifth Street is here, and you're still in' Nice hand! So far. But this is the critical card.

-If you have made your low, bet and raise. Even if you think someone else has a low also, they may not have a low yet, or their low may not be as good. In this case, you want to maximize the pot you may be splitting. If you're playing the starting hands I advocate, your lows will generally be better than the rest, because so many players play much more loosely than you do. If there is a high hand betting against other high hands like pairs, simply call. You don't want to push your profit payers out by making it too costly. On the other hand, if those people appear to be on a straight or flush draw, go ahead and raise because they will call for those draws anyway, maximize that profit. -If you have made a high hand, and there is no low, full speed ahead, max your betting. If there is a low, I would check-raise. Same thing here as Fourth Street. Once they have put in one bet they will put in one or two more, so maximize your part of the pot. -If you have one end locked up and a draw to a decent hand for the other half, full speed ahead, fill it up. If you miss, even if you're heads up, you haven't lost anything; you just get your chips back. And if you do scoop the whole pot, you have maximized it. It is also possible your opponent will fold if he thinks his best case scenario is risking chips for a best case scenario of a split. -If you have multiple draws, i.e. an open ended straight and low draw or a flush and low draw, raise to build the pot. -If you miss, you should probably check and fold, but keep an eye on what cards others just got. If it doesn't appear to fit, they may fold to a bet, and if they call, you can still make your hand. If you both appear to miss, you're still in the same position you were before Fifth Street. But keep in mind whoever has the high is much better off, because the low still needs help to qualify as a low.

Always keep mind what you see, and as with Hold 'Em, don't draw to a hand you think may be beat even if you hit it. Certainly play it defensively if you can't throw it away, don't raise.

For sixth and seventh Streets, it's easy. Get lucky, hit your draws. I hope you've decided to play some. Good luck. Stud Hi only is next on the menu, and then I'll go back and share some more advanced strategy for both.

note by gank: Jeff Henry is an extremely talented online poker pro and a great writer.