7 Card Stud Rules
7 Card Stud – Win your Ante and more
Seven Card Stud allows you create hands from seven cards adding a new level of skill and luck to the game.
Read this page for a complete guide to the rules and how to play using online software.
The Ante
The Ante is a compulsory contribution from all players into the pot at the beginning of a game. It will vary depending on the betting limit of the game. Games with low betting limits, for example a $3-$6 game, will normally have an Ante of around 10-15%. Higher value games can have Antes of up to 25%, this can result in a large amount of money in the pot before betting has even started. If you are new to Stud poker it is worth starting to play in the lower value games, this will ensure that you do not waste all your money on the Ante. It is also worth remembering that as the games increase in value, players will become more careful with their money.
The Deal
Throughout this explanation a $5-$10 game with a $.50 Ante will be used to exemplify. The game begins with each player being dealt two face-down cards (known as “pocket cards” and one face-up card (known as the “Door”) by the virtual dealer, dealing begins with the player on the virtual dealer’s left and continues clockwise. The player with the lowest Door card begins the betting, in the case of a tie suit decides who starts. The suits are ranked as follows: 1- Spades, 2- Hearts, 3- Diamonds, 4- Clubs. The first three cards dealt are known as “Third Street”.
Third Street
As mentioned above, the player with the lowest Door card begins the betting, they are the player who must “bring it in”. This means that they must bet two times the Ante (in the example game $1). Should they choose not to, they give up their hand and the player to their left must “bring it in”. Betting then proceeds as normal, the maximum bet or raise is the low stake, in our example that would be $5.
Fourth Street
Another card is dealt face-up to each player by the virtual dealer. Betting is begun by the person who has the best hand made up of the two face-up cards that have been dealt. For example, if one player has K-6 and another J-Q the high card bets first. Once again, bets can only be up to the lowest stake.
Fifth Street
This is much the same as Fourth Street, another face-up card is dealt to each player. The difference is that the maximum bet is increased to the high stake (in our example $10).
Sixth Street
This is exactly the same as Fifth Street, with another face-up card dealt to each player.
Seventh Street
A final card is dealt face-down to each player, it is known as the “river card”. Bets are still at the high stake limit.
Showdown
Once all betting is done, players who have not folded must “Showdown”. The first player to reveal their pocket cards is the one who initially began the betting. The other player’s may then decide whether or not they wish to compete with the hand that has been revealed. Players also have the option to fold, however, if someone requests to see your final hand then you must show it. The pot is won by the highest hand.
Know how to call, fold and raise?
If you do not understand terms such as fold, call, check, bet or raise explanations can be found on the Basic Bets page.
Hand Rankings
Understanding poker hand rankings is imperative to winning, see are Hand Rankings page for information.
