When most people think ‘poker’ they automatically think Texas Hold’em. Before Texas Hold’em became popular 7 Card Stud was generally considered the most popular form of poker being played. Even today where Texas Hold’em dominates the card rooms in the west coast of the United States, 7-Stud still remains very popular on the east coast.

The Basics:

Seven Card Stud can is usually only played with up to eight players. It is also normally only played in regular limit variety or as a spread limit game. Spread limit games allow a player to bet an amount within a set range. So in a 1-5 spread limit game, a player can bet any amount from 1 to 5 when it is their turn to bet. 7-Stud also incorporates different types of bets in order to generate a pot for players to contest. These replace the ‘blinds’ that help create pots in Hold’em games. These bets are called bring-ins.

Two Down, One Up:

Before the cards are dealt each player puts an ante into the pot. The ante is usually a percentage of whatever limit is being played. Each player is dealt two cards that are face down and no one but the player can see, and one card face up that everyone can see. Generally, the player showing the worst up card is required to bring in a forced bet called the bring-in. With a 2 (deuce) being the worst card and Ace being the highest. Suits also play a part in determining the rank of a hand. If more than one player has the same low card showing, the one with the lowest suit would be required to make the bring-in bet. Suits rank as clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades, with spades being the highest. The bring-in is usually a percentage of the limit that the players are playing at. The player to the left of the bring-in player is next to act. This player can fold, call or complete the bet. When a player completes they are performing a raise that takes the betting to the low limit. For example, if people were playing $2/$4, the bring-in would generally be $0.50 and if a person completes they would raise to $2.00. Play continues clockwise around the table until all the players have either folded or called the required bets.

Fourth Street:

The next card is dealt to the remaining players face up. The player showing the strongest hand is required to start the action. They can either check or make a bet of the limit allowed. Play continues clockwise from that play until all the players have acted.

Fifth Street:

Just as with fourth street, each player remaining are dealt another card face up. The player showing the highest hand value at this point now makes the first decision. Also note that in a limit game the bet sizes are increased to the higher limit in the game.

The final up-card is now dealt to all the players remaining in the hand. Action starts with the highest hand showing. This concept is important since the betting rounds can be started be a different player during each new street being dealt.

Seventh Street:

Also known as the river, the final card is dealt face down to all the players remaining in the hand. Betting commences with the highest hand showing.

The Showdown: