Seven card stud is probably the most popular variant of stud poker. This version of poker is quite complicated for beginners and is considered professionals’ ground. Many admit that is not possible to learn how to play this game perfectly well. But to learn how to play good takes a lot of effort and hard work.

There are up to 8 players involved in the game and each of them is dealt 7 cards – 4 face up and 3 face down. The goal of the game is to form the highest five card combination from your 7 pocket cards.

Ante

There are no blinds in the stud and before the cards are dealt each player needs to place an ante, which, depending on the limit can vary from 10 5 to 50 % of the minimum bet. For example, if you play 7 card stud with a limit of $ 2 – $ 4 then $ 2 is the minimum bet and your ante is to be $ 0.2 – $ 1.

Third Street

After placing the ante, each player is to be dealt 3 cards – two cards face down and one card face up. The face up card is called 3rd street. After that the dealer checks the cards face up and determines the lowest one. The player with the lowest card is to be the bring – in better. The amount of bring –in bet is usually equal to the half of the minimum bet i.e. if you play 7 card stud with a limit of $ 2 – $ 4 then the bet should be $ 1. In case there are several players with the same low cards, the bring –in player is to be determined by the seniority of the suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. The latter suit is considered to be the lowest and the player with the lowest suit is to place bring –in bet. This bet is considered the beginning / opening of the first betting round and the rest of the players are allowed to act in 3 ways: to call, to raise, or to fold.

Fourth Street

After the first betting round, all players who managed to survive and are still in the game are dealt 4th card face up. This round is called 4th Street. In this street the betting round is to be opened by the player with the strongest combination of the face up cards. This player is allowed to check, to place a minimum bet, or to fold. In case there are several players with the same highest card combination, the player is to be determined by the seniority of the suits as mentioned above. If on the fourth street a player managed to form a pair from the cards face up, this player is allowed to place a double minimum bet. For example, if you play 7 card stud with a limit of $ 2 – $ 4 then you are allowed to place a bet of $ 2 or double it i.e. to place a bet of $ 4.

Fifth Street

After the betting round each player is dealt a fifth card face up. This is the fifth street. It is followed by a betting round similar to the previous ones but now players are to place the maximum bet i.e. if the limit is $ 2 – $ 4 then you need to bet $ 4.

Sixth Street

All players who manage to stay in the game are dealt the last face up card. This is the sixth street. The betting round is the same as the previous one.

Seventh Street

This is the last street and all players who stay in the game are dealt the last, 7th card but face down. It is followed by the final betting round which is similar to the previous one.

Showdown

In case on the 7th street all bets are called, each player is to reveal his 3 face down cards. The winner is the player who managed to form the highest five card combination from his seven cards. He takes the pot.

Share