How To Play 7 Card Stud

A common variation of poker played at friendly poker games is 7-Card Stud, a fun game in which there are no community cards. Whether playing online or at home, 7-Card Stud is fairly simple:

• To start the game, each person antes up for the hand that will be dealt. The amount of the ante is decided on by the table you play at.
• Two cards are dealt facing down to everyone. Then, one card is dealt face up. This card is commonly called the ‘door card’ or ‘Third Street’.
• The first round of betting takes place. In some games, the person with the lowest valued ‘door card’ must bet first. This is known in 7-Card Stud as the ‘bring in bet’.
• Another card is then dealt to everyone, also facing up, usually referred to as ‘Fourth Street’.
• After another round of betting, another card is dealt, face up, to each player called ‘Fifth Street’.
• In this round of betting, the minimum/maximum bets typically double.
• The card known as ‘Sixth Street'’ is then dealt to each person.
• This is a round of betting at the higher values, raised after ‘Fifth Street’.
• Each player is then dealt another card, this time facing down. This is the ‘River Card’ or ‘Seventh Street’.
• The final round of betting takes place.

Remember: Unlike Texas Hold’em rules or Omaha Poker rules, in 7-Card Stud the person with the highest ranking hand showing in their face up cards bets first for that round. The bet will then moving clockwise around the table.

After all bets have been made, the hands are called and it’s time for the moment of truth- the player with the highest 5 card hand wins. Although you’ll be dealt 7 cards, you only play your best 5 cards at the end of the hand. The two cards left over do not count towards your final hand total.

Another variation on 7-Card Stud is 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo, played similarly but with a split pot for low hand. If you enjoy the game 7-Card Stud, you might also like 5-card stud rules.