Seven Card Stud - Rules and Game Play

Seven Card Stud has always been one of the most popular poker games in the world. You must have a very good memory to able to remember which exposed cards have been folded in this poker game. The best stud players have great hand reading ability, and the knowledge when to bet or fold. With only a maximum of eight players to a table with an ongoing ante structure, this form of poker is very unique.

Stud is played as a fixed limit game in which the amounts each player can bet is fixed for every betting round. Once all players are seated at the table one can now be established with a dealer. Before anyone is dealt cards each player must put a fixed ante in the pot. This ante amount is usually about 5% of one big bet. In a $5/$10 game the ante would be $.50.

Once all of the antes have been collected the dealer may begin to deal. Starting with the player to the left, everyone receives two hole cards face down and one card face up. Players begin betting with the player showing the smallest up card "bringing in" the pot. The small bring in bet is 1/4 of one big bet and the full bring in bet is 1/2 of one big bet. The small upcard has the choice to either bring in for the small or big bring-in. For example, someone showing a 2 in a $5/$10 limit game can bring in the small bet for $2 or the full amount of $5 for this betting round.

The next card dealt to all remaining players is now placed face up and is called fourth street. Betting now begins with the player showing the highest hand value for cards that are face up. Betting is now fixed at 1/2 of one big bet and would be in increments of $5 in a $5/$10 limit game. If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for one big bet ($10 in a $5/$10 game). Betting is capped at 4 raises per round.


The next card is dealt to remaining players face up and is called fifth street. Starting at fifth street all bets are made in increments of one big bet. Betting starts with the player showing the highest hand value, and now has the option of checking a making on big bet. All bets and raises from fifth street on are in increments on one big bet.


Players now receive another card the is placed face up. The player showing the highest stud hand is still first to bet and the betting is still in big bet increments.


Now all remaining players receive a final card which is dealt face down. This card completes the deal and betting still is in big bet increments starting with the players showing the highest hand. Once the last bet has been made all players remaining show their hands face up and the best five card hand wins the pot.