How to Play Seven Card Stud
Stud Poker Background Information
Seven Card Stud was, until recently, the most popular poker game being played in most home games. With the recent rise in popularity of the World Series of Poker, and with it the rise in popularity of Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud has been forgotten among most younger casual poker fans. It’s still a great poker game however, and shouldn't be ignored. It’s a great game to throw into the mix when Hold’em starts feeling a little stale. Most Stud games are “limit” games meaning that there is a limit to the amount of money that can be bet at one time. That means there are no “All-ins” or pot sized bets. Stud can still be played as a no-limit or pot limit game and there are some variations such as Mississippi Stud which are intended to be played as such and will be explained later.
Seven Card Stud was, until recently, the most popular poker game being played in most home games. With the recent rise in popularity of the World Series of Poker, and with it the rise in popularity of Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud has been forgotten among most younger casual poker fans. It’s still a great poker game however, and shouldn't be ignored. It’s a great game to throw into the mix when Hold’em starts feeling a little stale. Most Stud games are “limit” games meaning that there is a limit to the amount of money that can be bet at one time. That means there are no “All-ins” or pot sized bets. Stud can still be played as a no-limit or pot limit game and there are some variations such as Mississippi Stud which are intended to be played as such and will be explained later.
Terminology used in Seven Card Stud
Ante: A small bet placed by each player before receiving their cards. This is a forced bet and is usually very small, anywhere from 1/10th to 1/4th of the minimum bet.
Door Card: This is the one card that is dealt face up to each player before the first round of betting.
Bring in: This is a forced bet made by the player with the lowest showing door card on third street. Simply put, after every player antes and gets their cards, the person with the lowest showing card will have to make a bet. This bet is called the “bring in” and is usually larger than the ante, but smaller than the minimum bet. In most low stakes games, the bring it is $1.
Small bet: This is the fixed amount that may be bet in the first two rounds of a stud game (third and fourth street). In a $5/10 stud game, the small bet would be $5. Sometimes, the small bet is allowed within a range. For example, a $5/10 stud game may allow small bets anywhere between $1 and $5.
Large bet: This is the larger fixed amount that may be bet after the first two rounds of a stud game, starting on fifth street. In $5/10 stud, this amount would be $10.
Ante: A small bet placed by each player before receiving their cards. This is a forced bet and is usually very small, anywhere from 1/10th to 1/4th of the minimum bet.
Door Card: This is the one card that is dealt face up to each player before the first round of betting.
Bring in: This is a forced bet made by the player with the lowest showing door card on third street. Simply put, after every player antes and gets their cards, the person with the lowest showing card will have to make a bet. This bet is called the “bring in” and is usually larger than the ante, but smaller than the minimum bet. In most low stakes games, the bring it is $1.
Small bet: This is the fixed amount that may be bet in the first two rounds of a stud game (third and fourth street). In a $5/10 stud game, the small bet would be $5. Sometimes, the small bet is allowed within a range. For example, a $5/10 stud game may allow small bets anywhere between $1 and $5.
Large bet: This is the larger fixed amount that may be bet after the first two rounds of a stud game, starting on fifth street. In $5/10 stud, this amount would be $10.
7 Card Stud, the beginning game
After all the antes are in the pot, the dealer deals each player two cards face down and one final card face up. The face up card is the “door card” and the player with the lowest door card has to make the “bring in” bet. The player to the left of the bring-in can call fold or raise. If a player wishes to raise, it must be equal to the amount of the small bet for that game. (note: in a limit game, bets can be any amount greater than the bring in)
After all the antes are in the pot, the dealer deals each player two cards face down and one final card face up. The face up card is the “door card” and the player with the lowest door card has to make the “bring in” bet. The player to the left of the bring-in can call fold or raise. If a player wishes to raise, it must be equal to the amount of the small bet for that game. (note: in a limit game, bets can be any amount greater than the bring in)
Fourth Street in 7 Card Stud
After all the bets have been made for the bring-in round, the dealer deals each player one more card face-up. From this point on, the player with the best showing cards moves first but is not forced to bet. This player has the option to check or bet. A bet in this round would still be equal to the small bet. Action then moves to the left and players can check if no bet has been made or call or raise any bets that have already been made. Any raises to a bet must also be equal to the small bet. In a $5/$10 stud game, if the first player to move bets $5 and the next player wishes to raise, he must raise by $5.
After all the bets have been made for the bring-in round, the dealer deals each player one more card face-up. From this point on, the player with the best showing cards moves first but is not forced to bet. This player has the option to check or bet. A bet in this round would still be equal to the small bet. Action then moves to the left and players can check if no bet has been made or call or raise any bets that have already been made. Any raises to a bet must also be equal to the small bet. In a $5/$10 stud game, if the first player to move bets $5 and the next player wishes to raise, he must raise by $5.
Fifth Street in 7 Card Stud
On fifth street, each player is dealt another card face up, giving each player 3 face up cards and a complete 5 card hand. Starting from this round, all bets and raises must be equal to the large bet. The player with the best showing hand moves first and action moves clockwise around the table.
On fifth street, each player is dealt another card face up, giving each player 3 face up cards and a complete 5 card hand. Starting from this round, all bets and raises must be equal to the large bet. The player with the best showing hand moves first and action moves clockwise around the table.
Sixth Street in 7 Card Stud
On 6th street, each player is dealt a fourth card face up and action continues in the same manner as the last round. The best showing hand moves first and all bets and raises are equal to the large bet.
On 6th street, each player is dealt a fourth card face up and action continues in the same manner as the last round. The best showing hand moves first and all bets and raises are equal to the large bet.
Seventh Street in 7 Card Stud
On 7th street, each player gets their seventh and final card dealt to them face down. Each player now has 4 cards face up and 3 cards face down. The player who moved first on 6th street will move first again on 7th street since the showing cards have not changed. After all the bets have been completed, the players show their cards and the best 5 card hand takes the pot. If a player makes a bet and all the other players fold, that player is not required to show their hand to take the pot.
On 7th street, each player gets their seventh and final card dealt to them face down. Each player now has 4 cards face up and 3 cards face down. The player who moved first on 6th street will move first again on 7th street since the showing cards have not changed. After all the bets have been completed, the players show their cards and the best 5 card hand takes the pot. If a player makes a bet and all the other players fold, that player is not required to show their hand to take the pot.
