7 card stud poker - Starting strategy: four card restrained

A worthwhile strategy here, be it a limit or a pot limit game, is to stay in for the fourth card unless there is obvious behaviour (a raise) to indicate someone has a potential winner. Many decent four-card holdings only become potential winners after the dealing of the fourth card. The profits on these will more than reimburse you after what seem to be a lot of first round calls.

The following is a list of four card combinations that are worth playing:

Three of a kind
Any two pair
Any four-card flush
A three-card flush with a pair
A three-card flush with three straight cards (e.g., 5,6,8)
A four-card straight with no more than one gap (e.g., 5,6,8,9)
A three-card straight with a pair (e.g.,6,7,8,8)
Any pair of queens or better, providing there are none showing in other players’ up-cards
Any other pair with an ace kicker
Any three cards each 10 or higher