Poker Variations: Seven Card Stud

Possibly the most well-known poker game in the world, Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game which can take a lifetime to master. In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our hand ranks page.

Before a game of Seven Card Stud starts, all players ante a nominal amount. Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet (for example, either $1 or $2 in a $2/$4 game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Note: Starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, all bets are in big bet increments ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card, which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first.

The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Seven Card Stud is ready to begin.

Stud H/L

A variation of Seven Card Stud is Stud H/L. This is not a game recommended for beginners. It is possible for the main pot to be split equally between two different winning hands, one high and one low. The high pot is decided in the same way as regular Stud, the low pot is awarded to the player with the lowest five card hand less than eight. For example 3 4 5 6 7 could win the high pot for being a straight (if that is the best hand) and the low pot for all cards being less than 8. However, in this example A 3 4 5 6 would be a better low and and would win the low pot. The low hand can be any sequence of cards less than eight with no pairs. If there are several low hands that qualify to win the best hand is considered to be the one with the most low cards in it. A 2 3 4 6 is better than A 3 4 5 6. This concept is confusing to many players and therefore the game is often played very badly by beginners who believe they have a monster hand when in fact they are easily beaten.

For more information about low hand rankings click here.

Other good advice: TopStudPoker.com.

Further Reading (Stud Poker)