Seven Card Stud Poker
Seven Card Stud Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck, but can also be played with a joker. Standard poker rankings apply. When playing with a joker, the joker can be used as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. Five aces is the highest ranking poker hand.
Each poker player is dealt two cards face down (hole cards) and one card face up. There is a round of poker betting (check, bet, call, raise, or fold). Each remaining player is dealt one card face up. There is a second round of poker betting. Each remaining poker player is dealt a second card face up. There is a third round of betting. Each remaining player is dealt a third card face up. There is a fourth round of betting. Each remaining player is dealt a final card face down (hole card). There is a fifth (final) round of betting. The player with the highest ranking five-card poker hand wins the entire pot. In the event of a tie, the pot will be split equally.
STUD POKER BETTING STRUCTURE
All players must first ante before they receive their initial cards. There are five betting rounds in a complete game of 7 Card Stud Poker, not including Ante.
According to 7 Card Stud Rules, the action is started by forcing the lowest up card by rank and suit to bet the amount that corresponds to the bring-in for each limit. The action then rotates clockwise and players must either call the minimum bet forced by the low card, or make the first raise, which only completes the bet to the lower value of the limit structure. Raises thereafter are of the exact amounts of the fixed limits for each betting round.
On the first round of betting, the low card by rank and then by suit is required to initiate action with a minimum small bring-in bet. Suits are ranked: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If poker hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the action prompts will inform the players as to who acts first.
HOW TO PLAY
Ante-All players must post a small bet before the cards are dealt. This is commonly called the ante.
Each player is dealt two cards face-down (hole cards) and one card face-up (door card).
First betting round-The lowest face-up card is forced to bet (bring-in) a minimal bet which starts the action on the first betting round only. The first raise only increases the money bet up to the lower limit level. i.e. The first raise increases the bring-in bet to a total of $5 in a $5-$10 stud game.
Each player is dealt one card face-up. This is commonly called 4th street.
Second betting round-High hand acts first from this point (on each round) until the last card is dealt. If there is an open pair (two cards of same rank) showing, then player has the option of betting the lower or the higher amount of the limits. i.e. $5 or $10 in a $5-$10 limit game.
Each player is dealt another card face-up (5th street)—At this point the limit is raised to the higher limit amount. i.e. $10 in a $5-$10 stud game.
Third betting round-High hand acts first.
Each player is dealt another card face-up. This is commonly called 6th street.
Fourth betting round-High hand acts first.
Each player is dealt a last card face-down. This is commonly called the river card.
Final betting round-High hand acts first.
Players show their hands. This is commonly called “the showdown”.
7 Card Stud Poker Rules specify that when players show their hands (the showdown), they may use any 5 of their 7 cards to make their best possible poker hand.