Seven card stud (also referred to as 7 card stud) is similar to Texas hold’em in so far as you use your best five cards out of a total of seven to make your best poker hand. All the hand values remain the same, as it is still poker. However, it is not a board game like hold’em that has common cards that everyone can use. Each player receives his own seven cards that are not shared. While hold’em is often a game of high cards, seven card stud is a game of live cards – so remember to keep an eye on what’s been mucked and commit this information to memory.
Please note: this lesson assumes that you already know the rules of poker and are familiar with how to play Texas hold’em – including an understanding of poker hand rankings and other basic concepts.
The Setup and Initial Deal
The typical setup of 7-card stud is as follows:
In Seven-card stud poker, players receive seven cards, three 'down' cards and four 'up' cards. After the antes have been placed each player is dealt three cards (two 'down' cards and one 'up' card). The 'up' card is also known as the 'door card' or 'Third Street'. The lowest 'up' card must initiate the action with a 'Bring-In' bet. Download this game from Microsoft Store for Windows 10, Windows 8.1. See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Texas hold'em Poker Plus.
- A full table seats a maximum of 8 players
- It is played using a fixed-limit betting structure
- Everyone posts an ante to begin (blinds are not used)
- The initial deal consists of two private cards and one up card
An example of a seven-card stud game, when the antes are posted:
Seven-card stud can be played for all sorts of stakes. A $2/$4 game would generally have a $0.25 ante – and this gives the players something to shoot for right from the start.
The Bring In
7 Card Texas Hold'em
The lowest face up card is forced to ‘bring it in’ meaning they are obligated to make a bet. The forced bet in a fixed-limit game is generally lower than the small bet. For example, in a $2/$4 game the forced bring in would usually be $1.
If two or more players share the lowest ranked card then suits are used to determine which card is lowest. From highest to lowest, suits are ranked as follows; spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. The lowest card in the deck is therefore the . If that card appears as one’s up card, which is called your door card, that player is forced to make a bet.
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The Betting Rounds
There are five betting rounds in seven card stud versus only four in hold’em. After the bring in has been posted the action moves clockwise around the table. Players can call the initial bet, raise, or fold. When an opponent folds his cards are mucked, including their door card. Remember the exposed cards – as you may need one of that suit or rank later in the hand.
After this initial round of betting, called third street, each poker player who is still in is dealt another face up card called fourth street:
At this juncture another major difference between hold’em and seven card stud emerges. In hold’em the positional considerations stay the same throughout the hand. Beginning on fourth street the action starts with whomever has the highest board whether that be the highest card or a pair. if a player has an exposed pair showing on fourth street then they may be at the higher limit at this stage.
There is a round of betting and then another up card is dealt to each live player, called fifth street:
On fifth street the betting limit doubles. In a $2/$4 game, the minimum bet would be $4. Another betting round ensues and the sixth street card, which is the final up card for all to see, is dealt:
After another round of betting the final card, seventh street, or the river, is dealt:
The final card is dealt face down giving each active player a total of three down/private cards and four up cards for all to see. A final round of betting ensues and then the showdown.
As you can imagine there are many surprises at the river in seven card stud. This nuance of the game should alert the astute reader that your opponent’s betting patterns may well be worthy of more scrutiny than in hold’em.
Strategic Considerations
Hand reading becomes much more of an art in seven card stud than in hold’em since each player ends up with three private cards. In our example the player could be have A-T and have a straight. It’s also possible that a player could actually hold a full house or quads (four of a kind) without a pair showing.
Most volatile online slots. The value of live cards is the main reason seven card stud is a more difficult game to master. In hold’em the board is always there to refer to as are your two hole cards. In seven card stud when an opponent folds his cards you need to remember them as you may need one of that suit or rank later in the hand. This concept of “live cards” is critical to playing stud well.
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By Tom 'TIME' Leonard
Tom has been writing about poker since 1994 and has played across the USA for over 40 years, playing every game in almost every card room in Atlantic City, California and Las Vegas.
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Primetime sports betting. Seven-card stud poker is a classic poker game. The most important thing to remember when learning this game is that you get 7 cards to make your final 5 card hand, and you don't have to use any specific ones, just whichever 5 make the highest hand.
What You Need:
- 52-Card Deck
- Chips (or something to bet with)
- 2-7 Players
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 15 Minutes
Here's How:
- All players put in an ante.
- Starting to his/her left, the dealer deals each player two cards down (called hole or pocket cards) and one card face-up.
- Everyone looks at their hole cards.
- The player with the lowest card showing face-up has to put in a small bet called a 'bring in.' Then betting continues to that low-card player's left. Each player can call, raise, or fold their cards.
- After the betting is completed, another card is dealt to each player face-up. This card is also known as 'fourth street' or 'the turn.'
- Another round of betting occurs, starting now with the player with the highest cards showing. From fourth street on, the player with the highest cards showing will continue to be the first to bet.
- After betting is complete, the fifth card (fifth street or the river) is dealt face-up. More betting occurs, then the sixth card is dealt face up. More betting.
- The 7th and final card is dealt face-down to the players remaining in the hand. A final round of betting occurs.
- The players show their hands at the showdown. The player who can make the best five-card hand from the seven they were dealt, wins.