Before the massive explosion of Texas Hold’em worldwide, 7 Card Stud used to be the
number one poker game in 5️⃣ the world. Every professional poker player in the world knew
the game and knew it well.
The times have changed, but 5️⃣ 7 Card Stud remains an important
part of a well-rounded poker player’s arsenal. In the modern era of poker, it's 5️⃣ more
common to see stud played as part of mixed games.
Let's jump right in and learn the
rules of 7 5️⃣ Card Stud.
(Note: This guide covers the rules of standard 7 Card Stud. You
can also learn 5 Card Stud here 5️⃣ or Stud Hi-Lo here.)
Antes and the Bring-In
Stud is
almost always played with limit betting rules. For more on limit game 5️⃣ structures,
including references to the "small bet" and "big bet" referenced throughout this
article, see our guide to Poker Betting 5️⃣ Rules.
Stud is unlike Hold’em and Omaha, where
two players to the left of the button post blinds. Instead, each player 5️⃣ at the table
posts an ante, usually worth 5% of the big bet.
The player who receives the lowest
ranking door 5️⃣ card posts a forced bet called the bring-in which is worth 5 times the
ante. If they so choose, this 5️⃣ player may also complete the bet, by posting the entire
small bet.
In aR$5/$10 7 Card Stud game, players would postR$0.50 5️⃣ ante, and the
bring-in would beR$2.50. If the player chose to complete, they would need to payR$5
(the amount of 5️⃣ the small bet).
The Streets
There are no community cards in stud games.
Instead, each player in 7 Card Stud receives seven 5️⃣ unique cards. The first dealing
street includes two down cards and one up card to each of the players.
Four more
5️⃣ betting rounds commence after that, with each player dealt another card in each
round.
After all seven cards have been dealt, 5️⃣ the players will be left with three cards
face down and four cards face up.
The Betting Rounds
Once the player with 5️⃣ the
lowest-value door card has posted his bring-in, the action continues clockwise around
the table. Every player has the right 5️⃣ to either raise the bet, call, or fold their
cards.
In aR$5/$10 game, players would have the option to raise the 5️⃣ bring-in toR$5.
Since Stud is always played as a limit game, there are exact limits as to how much you
5️⃣ can raise.
The third and fourth street use the small bet as the raising and betting
standard, while the fifth, sixth, 5️⃣ and seventh street use the big bet.
The only
exception to this is when a player pairs their door card on 5️⃣ the fourth street, in which
case they may open with the big bet instead of the small bet if they 5️⃣ so choose.
To use
ourR$5/$10 game example once more, players would be raising and betting inR$5
increments on the first two 5️⃣ streets and inR$10 increments on the later three streets.
If a player pairs his door card on fourth street, they 5️⃣ get an option of opening with
theR$10 bet.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth streets, each include a single card being
dealt 5️⃣ face up to all remaining players. Seventh street is then dealt face down. A
betting round follows after every dealing 5️⃣ street.
Starting with the fourth street, the
first player to act is always the one with the strongest showing hand.
For instance, 5️⃣ a
player showing a pair will always act before players whose hands are not showing a
pair. Face-down cards are 5️⃣ irrelevant.
The Showdown
If more than one player remains in
the hand after seventh street, the players show their cards, starting with 5️⃣ seat one and
around the table clockwise. If there was aggressive action on the last betting street,
the player who 5️⃣ made the aggressive action goes first in showing the cards.
The player
with the strongest five-card poker hand wins the pot. 5️⃣ Winning hands are determined
using standard poker hand rankings. If two or more players have the same hand strength,
the 5️⃣ pot is split among the winning players.
In the Stud showdown example above, the
player on the right wins with a 5️⃣ club flush, beating the left player's two-pair.
Note:
Are you here just to learn how to play poker...or do you want 5️⃣ to know how to win too?
Get this free guide with 10 quick poker strategy tips if you want to 5️⃣ come out on top.
