Seven Card Stud Rules

February 28, 2007 by ozpoker
Filed under Poker Rules

Seven-Card Stud

A game of information and mis-information. Stud games are games in which players get dealt down cards only known to the players and exposed cards which everyone can see. The game differs to Omaha and Holdem as there are no community cards.

In Seven Card Stud every player receives seven cards in total (four face-up; three face-down) from which they make their best five-card hand.

Order of play

All players ante which is a pre-defined amount of money placed in the pot before the hand is begun. In tournaments the ante increases as the levels increase.
Each player is dealt two hole cards face down, and one door card face up.
There is a round of betting, started by the “bring-in” which is the forced bet made on the first round of betting by the player who is dealt the lowest card. The bring in is equal to half the lower limit.
Each player is dealt another card, face-up (fourth street).
There is a round of betting.
Each player is dealt another card, face-up (fifth street).
There is a round of betting.
Each player is dealt another card, face-up (sixth street).
There is a round of betting.
Each player is dealt another card, face-down (the river).
There is a final round of betting.

The best five-card hand wins the pot. If two or more players show the same best hand, the pot is split between those players.

Seven Card Stud is offered only in Fixed Limit and Pot Limit structures. In Fixed Limit Seven Card Stud, the first two betting rounds are at the lower limit; the last three rounds are at the higher limit. However, if any player shows an open pair on fourth street (second betting round), then all players have the option of betting at the lower or higher limit. Once one player bets at the higher limit, all subsequent bets and raises must continue at the higher limit as well.

Seven Stud is offered as High-Lo Split (8), as well as High Only.