7 Card Stud Rules

7 Card Stud is an older poker variant and not as popular as it used to be before Texas Holdem and Omaha became widely played. It does not have as much action and is recommended for more calculated players.

7 Card Stud rules

Unlike other poker variants, 7 Card Stud is played without community cards. It also does not use blinds. Instead, each player has to pay ante before the start of each hand.

Betting rounds

There are 5 betting rounds in 7 Card Stud:

 Third street – every player is dealt three cards, of which two face-down and one face-up. In order to determine who acts first, the face-up cards are compared. The player with the lowest face-up card has to pay either an amount equal to ante or small bet (player’s choice).
This is the only one situation when card suits matter. If two players show face-up cards of the same rank, the worst suit will have to pay. The suit order from worst to best – clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. The additional chips paid are called the bring. The player immediately to the left of the bring is first to act and the action proceeds clockwise. The first player can either fold, call the bring, or raise.
 Fourth street – every player is dealt one more card, face-up. Now there are two face-up cards and they are again compared to find out who acts first. Card suits matter as well. This time the player with the best hand acts first and can either check or bet the small limit (small bet). The action proceeds clock-wisely.
 Fifth street – every player receives another one face-up card. Rules are the same as on the fourth street except the first player has to bet the big limit (big bet).
 Sixth street – identical to the fifth street.
 Seventh street – this time every player is dealt one face-down card. The player who acted first on sixth street, act here first again and can check or bet the big limit (big bet).

If there is still two or more players that have not folded by now, they have to reveal their hands in the showdown. The best hand wins the pot. This time card suits do not matter – if two players have the same hand but of different suits, the pot is split. Players can use any five out of their seven cards to make their best hand, no matter if they are face-up or face-down.

7 Card Stud can be played by up to eight players at one table. Since it is not possible to deal 7 hole cards to 8 players (single deck contain only 52 cards), whenever there are 8 players at the table, the dealer has to deal one face-up card in the middle of the table. This is the only time community cards are used in this poker variant.

7 Card Stud example

Fixed-Limit 7 Card Stud, $0.50 ante, $4/$8 bets, 4 players with $200 stacks each. Every player pays ante ($0.50).

Third street (4 players, pot - $2)

Players are dealt three cards. Face-up cards are: Player 1 – A, Player 2 – K, Player 3 – 5, Player 4 – 5. Players 3 and 4 have the lowest rank face-up cards but Player 4’s is of a worse suit. Player 4 decides to bring in ante ($0.50). Player 1, sitting to the left of Player 4, folds, Player 2 raises ($4), Player 3 calls ($4), and Player 4 calls ($3.5).

Fourth street (3 players, pot - $14)

Players are dealt one face-up card each. Their face-up cards now are: Player 2 – KQ, Player 3 – 55, Player 4 – 58. Player 3 has the best face-up hand now so he acts first. He bets ($4), Player 4 folds, Player 2 raises ($8), and Player 3 calls ($4).

Fifth street (2 players, pot - $30)

Players are dealt one face-up card each. Their face-up cards now are: Player 2 – KQ10, Player 3 – 55A. Player 3 has the best face-up hand and acts first. He bets ($8) and Player 2 calls ($8).

Sixth street (2 players, pot - $46)

Each player is dealt the last face-up card. Their face-up cards now are: Player 2 – KQ102, Player 3 – 55A3. Player 3 again has the best face-up hand and acts first. He checks and Player 2 checks behind.

Seventh street (2 players, pot - $46)

Each player is dealt one face-down card. Player 3 bets ($8), Player 2 raises ($16), Player 3 reraises ($16), and Player 2 calls ($8).

Showdown (final pot - $94)

Player 3 shows 66655 and Player 2 shows AKQJ10. Player 3 has a full house and loses to Player 2’s royal flush. Player 2 wins $94 ($44.5 profit).

More articles on poker rules:

 Poker rules
 Poker hand ranking
 Poker variants
 Texas Holdem rules
 Omaha rules
 Betting limits
 High-low variants
 Table types

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