7 Card Stud Guide
7-Card Stud is still a very popular Poker game, even if it does get overlooked due to the immense popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em and the growing popularity of Omaha. But it can still be a fun alternative to Hold ‘Em for a change of pace, plus the rules are easy to learn. Here are the basics:
Before cards are dealt, each player puts in an ante, instead of blinds like in other Poker games.
Each person is dealt three cards- two faces down and one face up for all to see.
The person with the lowest exposed card must now make a bet- either half or a full small bet. The amount of a bet is determined by the limits of the game. In a $2/$4 Stud game, a half bet would be half of the two, or $1, and a full small bet would be the full $2. This move is called the ‘bring-in’. Players can fold at this time, or match the bet.
If two players have the same low card, then the suit of the card determines the tiebreaker. The rank of suits is Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs in descending order.
Now the betting action does a circle around the table like any other Poker game.
Each player is now dealt another face-up card, called ‘Fourth Street’.
The next round of betting is started by the player with the highest Poker hand using the two exposed cards. If that person has a pair, they are allowed to now bet the high amount, which would be $4 in the example we used above. Of course, they do have the option of checking as well, but if another player chooses to bet they must either match or fold.
Now a fifth exposed card, ‘Fifth Street’ is dealt to each player.
The first player to act is by the highest exposed Poker hand again. But this time, they must bet the game max, regardless of whether they have a pair or not.
The final card, “Sixth Street” is dealt to the players. The person with the highest-ranking Poker hand at this point is again the first to act for betting.
If there is no betting or once betting is done, then the players expose their two-hole cards. Whoever makes the best five-card Poker hand is the winner.
