The most important thing to bear in mind when beginning to learn this game is that you get 7 cards to choose from to make your final 5 card hand, and you don’t have to use any particular ones of the 7 you’re dealt, just any 5 that give you the highest hand.

Don’t forget that Seven card stud is played with two downcards and one upcard dealt before the first betting round, followed by three more upcards (with a betting round after each card). After the last downcard is dealt, there is a final round of betting. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot.

In all fixed-limit games, the smaller bet is wagered on the first two betting rounds, and the larger bet is wagered after the betting rounds on the fifth, sixth, and seventh cards. If there is an open pair on the fourth card, any player has the option of making the smaller or larger bet. Deliberately changing the order of your upcards in a stud game is inappropriate because it unfairly misleads the other players.

Your objective: The best five-card poker hand, out of seven cards, wins the pot.

Step by step:

• 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 takes place, 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 happens, and 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.

That’s what you need:

* 52-Card Deck
* Chips
* 2-7 Players

Further reading:

7-card Stud by Roy West
Winning 7-Card Stud: Transforming Home Poker Chumps into Casino Killers
Seven-Card Stud for Advanced Players (Advance Player)

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