50c/$1 Stud Hi: 3-flush in a multi-way pot

Everyone here is bad. There's 3 spots in the hand where I've got a decision:

1) Do I call 4th after I brick?
2) Lead 5th when I catch my 4 flush?
3) Bet/3-bet/call the river against this board?

Thoughts on my line?

7 Card Stud *High* ($0.50/$1), Ante $0.10, Bring-In $0.15

*3rd Street*

seat 0: xx xx 2d___*brings in*___folds
seat 1: xx xx Qs___raises
seat 2: xx xx 5s___calls
seat 3: xx xx 5d___folds
seat 4: xx xx 9d___calls
seat 5: xx xx 4s___calls
Hero: 9c Qc 3c___calls
seat 7: xx xx 4c___folds

*4th Street*

seat 1: xx xx Qs Js___bets
seat 2: xx xx 5s Kc___*checks*___folds
seat 4: xx xx 9d 2h___checks___calls
seat 5: xx xx 4s Jd___checks___calls
Hero: 9c Qc 3c 6h___checks___calls

*5th Street*

seat 1: xx xx Qs Js Kd___checks
seat 4: xx xx 9d 2h 3s___checks
seat 5: xx xx 4s Jd 5c___checks
Hero: 9c Qc 3c 6h Ac___*checks*

*6th Street*

seat 1: xx xx Qs Js Kd 7c___bets
seat 4: xx xx 9d 2h 3s Ts___folds
seat 5: xx xx 4s Jd 5c 8s___folds
Hero: 9c Qc 3c 6h Ac Ks___*checks*___calls

*River*

seat 1: xx xx Qs Js Kd 7c xx___raises___re-raises
Hero: 9c Qc 3c 6h Ac Ks 6c___*bets*___re-raises___calls

I think you did the right thing here, the only thing Id watch for here is to see how many clubs are out, on 3rd, only one is showing, but you have to assume that at least a minimum of 2 other clubs are also dead for you, if more than 4 or 5 are dead you probably wont catch a flush.

SAH89 said:

you have to assume that at least a minimum of 2 other clubs are also dead for you

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Why do I have to assume that? There's 2 clubs out by 4th, I can't account for any more right?

surely we have to fold on 4th, im not as experience at stud as you are C, but isn't it -EV to keep going with a draw if you brick fourth? I'm sure i've heard that somewhere but im not sure.

The rest seems standard imo, although is there a possibility of check raising on 7th, sicne our board is really dry, so we can expect most hands to bet into us following a check, and weak hands such a 2 pair will likely call our check raise, but by leading out, hands such as 2 pair may very well not raise and will just flat call. Costing us a bb. Check raising just seems like it will win you more against weak hands since our board is so dry.

switch0723 said:

surely we have to fold on 4th, im not as experience at stud as you are C, but isn't it -EV to keep going with a draw if you brick fourth? I'm sure i've heard that somewhere but im not sure.

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In the 4th street chapter in 7 Card Stud for Advanced Players, Sklansky states that if the pot is very multi-way & our draw is still live, or if we catch a card that gives us straight possibilities or a pair, then we should continue with the hand. I'll try to find the exact quote & context tonight. But the point is that I'm getting huge pot odds to call (9:1) that peeling a card off while my draw is still live is fine.

Check raising just seems like it will win you more against weak hands since our board is so dry.

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Well our opponent played his hand, to me, so that it looked like a flush or straight draw. Why would he check 6th with two pair? I figured a flush draw would check behind on 7th if it bricked, and raise if he hit. So either way, leading out is preferable to a check raise.

1) If his flush draw busted, but he caught a big pair, he may call a bet, whereas he'll almost always check behind.
2) 2 small pair often checks the river.
3) He's aggressive enough to probably raise a straight, aces/kings up, or trips, or a flush. All of these hands I beat (except AK flushes), and that raise allows me to bet/3-bet.

In a tournament, I probably wouldn't peel 4th FWIW, since eliminating some of those high variance plays is worth more than the chips you gain.

Actually, its in the section titled "Continuing with a draw".

7 Card Stud for Advanced Players by Sklansky said:

However, if you don't catch a suited card on fourth street, contrary to what many players think, you should call about 60 percent of the time.

This 60 percent comes from the fact that you should call if you have any kind of improvement or if other conditions are favorable...

...In general, you need a good reason not to call with a three flush on fourth street...

... Many people who think they are playing well fold too many three-flushes on fourth street. The idea that you need to catch a suited card to continue playing is simply wrong.

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So yeah, while the 6 *is* a complete brick, I think the pot is large enough & multi-way enough to continue to 5th. If the pot were smaller, less multi-way, then I'd probably pitch it.