Seven Card Stud Rules

Seven Card Stud is one of the oldest poker games around; a game enjoyed in many homes around the World.
It sat behind Texas Holdem for quite a while, but the need for variation has caused an increase in popularity once again.

SEVEN CARD STUD RULES

As opposed to Texas Holdem, Seven Card Stud uses “antes” instead of “blinds”, which is also a forced bet before cards are dealt. In this game however, all players at the table must ante-up a usual amount of 5%-10% of the games large bet (stake). For instance, if you are at a $5/$10 table, the ante most likely would be $1.

Once everybody has put down the ante, the dealer will deal one card at a time clockwise, with each player ending up with two face-down cards (“pocket”) and one face-up card (“door”).

The first betting round begins with a “bring-in” bet. The player with the lowest face-up card must make a force bet, usually half the amount of the small bet or the full small bet amount if desired by the player. (In our example, the bring-in bet would be either $2.5 or $5).If there is a tie on the low card, then the suit of the card is used to decide which card is the weakest. The suit rankings are (from strongest to weakest): Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs. All players must then call, fold, or raise. (If the “bring-in” bet was half the small bet, then players can raise by completing the small bet amount).

All players must then call, fold, or raise. (If the “bring-in” bet was half the small bet, then players can raise by completing the small bet amount).

Each player now is dealt another face-up card, known as “Fourth Street”. The player with the highest (strongest) poker hand (from the face-up cards) has the option to increase the bet amounts to match the large bet ($10), or to keep them at the small bet amount ($5). His decision will have to be matched by all players on this round.

Another face-up card is dealt, known as “Fifth Street”. Once again, a betting round begins with the highest poker hand, but all bets on this round must be the large bet amount ($10).

The last face-up card is dealt, known as “Sixth Street”, and Step #4 is done again. One last card is dealt face-down for a total of 7 cards per player. This card is known as the “River”. The player with the highest face-up poker hand begins again with the betting round, still limited to the large bet or Stake ($10)NOTE: If all 8 players are still playing, then there might not be enough cards in the deck to be dealt, in which case the dealer will deal one community card face-up to be used by all players as their “River” card.

After the final betting round, it is now time for the Showdown. The player with the strongest 5-card poker hand (from the 7 dealt) wins the pot.  See our available Poker Hand Ranking.

WHERE TO PLAY SEVEN CARD STUD

It might seem challenging at first, but it would not be gaining popularity once again if it were not. Playing the game is the best way to practice it, and practice makes perfect, so go right ahead and play Seven Card Stud now. If you not able to find a game why not host your own home poker game?