Seven Card Stud Rules

Seven Card Stud Rules

Seven card stud rules are much different than rules of poker games such as Texas Hold em poker. Although Texas Holdem may be the most popular poker game today, Seven Card Stud frequently comes in second place.

Seven card stud rules share the same poker hand rankings as most all of the other poker variants. The best possible hand is a royal flush down to the worst possible poker hand rank (high card). Unlike Texas Holdem, Seven Card Stud rules not involve community cards. Rather, each player receives their own cards, two face down, four face up, and a final card face down.

How to Play Seven Card Stud

The Ante

Seven Card Stud begins with an ante from each player. The amount each player contributes is the same and this is a forced bet in order for players to receive their hole cards.

Seven Card Stud Betting Rounds

Seven Card Stud has six betting rounds. These betting rounds are known as third street, fourth street, fifth street, sixth street, the river, and the showdown. Once players have contributed their ante to the pot, the dealer gives everybody two hole cards (face down) and one card face up.

Beginning a Seven Card Stud Hand

Unlike Texas Holdem, there is no dealer button. The player with the highest card showing begins the betting. This player has the choice to check or bet. After his action each subsequent player can either call, raise, or fold. After the round of betting finishes, four more rounds occur. During the next three rounds more cards are dealt to each player face up, one at a time. Each time a card is dealt a round of betting occurs.

Seventh Street & Showdown

The final seventh card, known as the river card, is dealt to the players face down, hidden from the other players. Once this final round of betting occurs, players enter into a showdown and the highest five card hand wins. There is some etiquette involved at the showdown. The last player to call the bet shows their best five cards first and it goes around the table. After the winner is announced, the pot is awarded and another Seven Card Stud hand begins.