How to Play Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud is an easy game to learn because each hand follows the same basic structure. Each player receives a total of seven cards and may then use any five of those cards to make the best possible poker hand. The player with the best hand at the end of the round wins the pot.
The only part of the rules of Seven Card Stud that could be considered confusing are the antes and bring-in. Even that part isn’t too difficult but it sometimes looks complicated on paper. Once you have a handle on the antes and bring-in, the rest of the game is a piece of cake.
Seven Card Stud Rules
Each hand of 7 Card Stud begins with the antes. The size of the antes vary but they are usually equal to 10% the size of the small bet. The players must all pay the antes at the beginning of each hand. For example, the antes would be $0.10 in a $1/$2 game.
Note – many internet poker sites now use a blind system instead of antes and bring-ins. At these tables, the two players to the left of the dealer must pay the blinds. The player closest to the dealer must pay an amount equal to half the small bet and the player to the left of that person must pay a full small bet.
3rd Street:
Each player is dealt three cards. Two cards are dealt face down and one is dealt face up. The player with the lowest face up card must pay the bring-in. The bring-in is a bet equal to half the size of the small bet. A round of betting then takes place, beginning with the player who paid the bring-in.
That player may leave the bring-in alone or “complete” it. If the player decides to leave it alone, the cost to enter the pot is half a small bet. If that player completes the bring-in or anyone else raises, it raises the cost of entry to one small bet. After that, all bets must be made in increments of the lower betting limit.
4th Street:
Each player is dealt one face-up card. This is followed by a round of betting that begins with the player who has the best hand showing. From here on out, the players may check, bet or fold. If any player makes a bet, the other players must either call, raise or fold.
5th Street:
Each player is dealt one face-up card. This is followed by another round of betting similar to the previous round. Starting now and lasting for the rest of the hand, the bigger betting limit is used.
6th Street:
Each player is dealt one face-up card. This is followed by a round of betting.
7th Street:
Each player is dealt one face-down card. There is one final round of betting.
Showdown:
The remaining players may now reveal their cards. The player with the best 5-card poker hand, using any five of the seven cards in his hand, wins the pot.
Hopefully you got the rules down and now know how to play 7 card stud. However, if you would like additional information about the game, we have a few other related pages: