Fourth & fifth street
Third street sets your hand — fourth and fifth decide whether you keep paying. Here the bet doubles, the acting order flips, and every visible card starts telling you the truth.
Two streets, two jobs
Fourth street is a cheap second up-card: keep reading. Fifth street adds a third up-card and doubles the price — now you hold five of your seven cards and the guessing is over.
Who acts first flips
Third street is forced by the low bring-in. From fourth on, the highest poker hand showing acts first and may check or bet — an open pair counts.
It's fifth street. Your opponent's up-cards are showing a scary board. Which player is currently ahead?
Fourth: cheap card, update your read
Small bet (unless a pair triggers the double). Did your card improve you or just miss? Did a rival pair up or pick up an obvious draw? Continue with live cards — this is your last easy exit.
You're on fourth street. Based on the cards, should you continue or fold?
Fifth street: the gate
If you're still in on fifth, you're usually committed to seventh. Don't ask "can I call one big bet?" — ask "will I pay big bets on fifth, sixth AND seventh?" If no, fold now.
Funnel it
Fourth = cheap recon: continue live, note who improved, dump marginal hands before the price doubles. Fifth = the gate: pay only with a made hand or a genuinely live high draw, and expect to see it through.
- The bet doubles on fifth: small on 3rd/4th, big on 5th/6th/7th.
- From fourth street on, the highest hand showing acts first — not the bring-in.
- An open pair on fourth lets everyone choose the small OR big bet that round.
- Fifth is the commitment point: call the big bet and you're usually in to seventh.
- Count your outs against every visible up-card — dead cards kill draws.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 18/22 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
In fixed-limit Seven-Card Stud, when does the bet size double to the big bet?
Bets are the small size on 3rd and 4th street and double to the big bet on 5th, 6th, and 7th street.
On fourth street, who acts first?
From fourth street onward, the high hand showing acts first, unlike third street's low-card bring-in.
What special betting option does an open pair create on fourth street?
An open pair on fourth street gives every player the choice of the small or the double bet for that round.
How many cards does each player hold after fifth street is dealt?
Players have three up-cards and two down-cards — five of their eventual seven — after fifth street.
On fourth street, how many up-cards can you see for each opponent?
Fourth street gives each player a second up-card, so two up-cards are visible per opponent.
Why is fifth street called the 'commitment point' in Stud?
The doubled bet and the size of the developing pot mean calling on fifth usually commits you to the river.
With a made hand like trips on fifth street against a flush draw, the best play is usually to:
Betting a made hand on fifth makes draws pay the big bet and reduces free cards that could beat you.
In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, a standard bet on fourth street (no open pair) is:
Fourth street uses the small-bet size ($5) unless an open pair triggers the big-bet option.
In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, a bet on fifth street is:
Fifth street is a big-bet street, so the bet is the large size ($10).
Which street is generally the cheapest 'reconnaissance' card before prices climb?
Fourth street is still the small-bet size, making it the last inexpensive card to see.
On fifth street you hold a weak draw with several of your key cards dead. The disciplined play is to:
Fifth street is where you fold marginal, dead-out draws rather than commit big bets to them.
Compared to third street, decisions on fifth street are:
By fifth you hold the majority of your hand and see up to three up-cards per opponent.
An open pair's big-bet option is unique to which street?
Fourth is the only street before fifth where the doubled bet can be triggered — via an open pair.
Why does betting a made hand on fifth street usually beat slow-playing it?
Most draws need both sixth and seventh; the doubled bet on fifth makes chasing expensive.
What is the correct total number of betting rounds in Seven-Card Stud?
Betting occurs on third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh street — five rounds.
You catch a card on fourth street that pairs your down-card, giving a hidden pair (no open pair). What betting size applies to a normal bet?
Only an open (visible) pair triggers the fourth-street double option; a hidden pair does not.
The best single question to ask yourself before calling a big bet on fifth street is:
Because fifth typically commits you to the river, plan for the full cost, not just one bet.
Which of these best describes the role of fourth street in your overall strategy?
Fourth is inexpensive reconnaissance; you continue with live hands and fold marginals before fifth doubles the price.
Two opponents show boards on fifth street; one clearly has a made flush showing three suited cards. Your one pair with no improvement should usually:
When the board clearly beats you and the bets are big, fifth street is the place to release.
You hold a four-flush on fifth street but three cards of your suit are already showing in opponents' hands. This means:
Every card of your suit visible elsewhere is one fewer out — dead cards drastically weaken a draw.
If two players show an open pair on fourth street, how is first action decided?
High hand showing acts first, and a higher pair outranks a lower pair on board.
On fourth street, a pair showing 'counts' for determining first action because:
From fourth street the highest hand on board leads, and a pair showing beats an unpaired high card.
Review — all 22 questions & answers tap to expand
-
In fixed-limit Seven-Card Stud, when does the bet size double to the big bet?
Answer Starting on fifth street
Bets are the small size on 3rd and 4th street and double to the big bet on 5th, 6th, and 7th street.
-
On fourth street, who acts first?
Answer The player showing the highest poker hand on board
From fourth street onward, the high hand showing acts first, unlike third street's low-card bring-in.
-
What special betting option does an open pair create on fourth street?
Answer Every player may bet either the small bet or the big (double) bet
An open pair on fourth street gives every player the choice of the small or the double bet for that round.
-
How many cards does each player hold after fifth street is dealt?
Answer Five
Players have three up-cards and two down-cards — five of their eventual seven — after fifth street.
-
On fourth street, how many up-cards can you see for each opponent?
Answer Two
Fourth street gives each player a second up-card, so two up-cards are visible per opponent.
-
Why is fifth street called the 'commitment point' in Stud?
Answer If you call the big bet there, you're usually committed to seeing seventh street
The doubled bet and the size of the developing pot mean calling on fifth usually commits you to the river.
-
With a made hand like trips on fifth street against a flush draw, the best play is usually to:
Answer Bet, using the doubled limit to charge the draw the maximum
Betting a made hand on fifth makes draws pay the big bet and reduces free cards that could beat you.
-
In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, a standard bet on fourth street (no open pair) is:
Answer $5
Fourth street uses the small-bet size ($5) unless an open pair triggers the big-bet option.
-
In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, a bet on fifth street is:
Answer $10
Fifth street is a big-bet street, so the bet is the large size ($10).
-
Which street is generally the cheapest 'reconnaissance' card before prices climb?
Answer Fourth street
Fourth street is still the small-bet size, making it the last inexpensive card to see.
-
On fifth street you hold a weak draw with several of your key cards dead. The disciplined play is to:
Answer Fold, since you'd be paying big bets to chase a half-dead draw
Fifth street is where you fold marginal, dead-out draws rather than commit big bets to them.
-
Compared to third street, decisions on fifth street are:
Answer More concrete, because you hold five cards and see more of each opponent's board
By fifth you hold the majority of your hand and see up to three up-cards per opponent.
-
An open pair's big-bet option is unique to which street?
Answer Fourth street
Fourth is the only street before fifth where the doubled bet can be triggered — via an open pair.
-
Why does betting a made hand on fifth street usually beat slow-playing it?
Answer It charges draws the big bet and denies them free cards over two remaining streets
Most draws need both sixth and seventh; the doubled bet on fifth makes chasing expensive.
-
What is the correct total number of betting rounds in Seven-Card Stud?
Answer Five
Betting occurs on third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh street — five rounds.
-
You catch a card on fourth street that pairs your down-card, giving a hidden pair (no open pair). What betting size applies to a normal bet?
Answer The small bet, since no open pair is showing
Only an open (visible) pair triggers the fourth-street double option; a hidden pair does not.
-
The best single question to ask yourself before calling a big bet on fifth street is:
Answer Am I willing to pay big bets on fifth, sixth, and seventh?
Because fifth typically commits you to the river, plan for the full cost, not just one bet.
-
Which of these best describes the role of fourth street in your overall strategy?
Answer Cheap street to update reads and exit marginal hands before the limit doubles
Fourth is inexpensive reconnaissance; you continue with live hands and fold marginals before fifth doubles the price.
-
Two opponents show boards on fifth street; one clearly has a made flush showing three suited cards. Your one pair with no improvement should usually:
Answer Fold, since a one-pair hand is likely beaten and big bets are due
When the board clearly beats you and the bets are big, fifth street is the place to release.
-
You hold a four-flush on fifth street but three cards of your suit are already showing in opponents' hands. This means:
Answer Your flush draw is largely dead and much weaker than it looks
Every card of your suit visible elsewhere is one fewer out — dead cards drastically weaken a draw.
-
If two players show an open pair on fourth street, how is first action decided?
Answer The higher-ranked pair acts first
High hand showing acts first, and a higher pair outranks a lower pair on board.
-
On fourth street, a pair showing 'counts' for determining first action because:
Answer The high hand showing acts first, and a pair outranks a single high card
From fourth street the highest hand on board leads, and a pair showing beats an unpaired high card.