7 Card Stud Poker Rules

Seven Card Stud is the game for professional poker players. Stud demands skill and it takes a lot of play to develop the winner's edge. Top players are few but they have one thing in common with the rookies: every player of the game is still learning, even the masters.

Stud games are defined by their betting limits. The low stakes online games are usually $2-$4 while the higher games are typically $10-$20. The game's betting limits tell the Stud player pretty much everything they need to know about the nature of the game, the expectations of the players, and the size of the bankroll you should have before you sit in.

The minimum Stud Buy-In is typically 10-times the low limit, or $20 for a $2-$4 game. But playing with the minimum is not recommended (see strategy). Anything below the $10-$20 level is generally considered a beginner's game. The skill and strategy levels required in the higher games are substantial and such games generally do not provide a friendly environment for a beginner.

The Ante

Ante in Stud is mandatory and changes depending on the betting limits. The low games usually require a 10% Ante, so a $2-$4 game will have a $0.20 Ante. The high limit games get up to 25% on the Ante: e.g. $25 on a $100-$200 game. The percentages may vary and 10% is a minimum.

The dealer deals clockwise starting on their immediate left. They deal one card at a time around the table until each player has two pocket cards (face down) and a single up (the door card).

At this point the dealer indicates which player will open the betting, determined by the lowest door card. If there's a tie for low door, suit resolves it: spades over hearts, followed by diamonds, and finally clubs is the lowest.

Betting

Once the initial cards have been dealt, the game begins. At this point we've got three cards on the table per player and that's called Third Street.

The player holding the lowest door card must bring it in by opening with a bet equal to twice the ante ($2 in our example game). If the low door player doesn't make this bet, they're forced to Fold and the opener passes to the player on their left.

The next player clockwise from the opener can Call by matching the opener, Raise by betting the low betting limit ($10) or Fold. Throughout third street all Bets and Raises are fixed at the low betting limit ($10).

Fourth Street

The dealer gives each player another open (up) card. Unlike third street, the opener in the fourth and remaining streets is the high hand as determined by the open cards. They may Check (Pass) or Bet. It they Bet it's at the low limit ($10) and that fixes all raises in this round to the same.

If the high hand is an open pair, the opener can Bet at the upper limit ($20) and this fixes all Raises in the round to the same.

Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Street

gain, the card is dealt up and high hand opens. All Bets and Raises are at the upper limit ($20). The last card, called the river, is another pocket card (face down). All bets and raises are at the high limit ($20).

Showdown

After the Bets and Raises have been resolved, the remaining players enter the Showdown. The opener reveals his pocket cards. If a player wishes to compete with this hand they too reveal their pocket cards, or they can yield and muck out (Fold).