How To Play Seven Card Stud

Learning seven card stud rules is easier than you may think. There are no community cards as in games like Hold’em and Omaha. Players must win with five of the seven cards they’re dealt. Seven card stud rules state that the game is played between two and eight people.

7 Card Stud Rules—The First Round

To those learning how to play 7 card stud, the first round is the toughest. Once you’ve mastered 7 card stud rules and know how to play 7 card stud you’ll wonder why it ever seemed so tough…

To begin with, the two to eight players post ante. They then receive 2 cards down and one card up. In 7 card stud poker rules this third up card is often called “3rd street.”

In some variations the lowest up card posts a “bring-in” bet and then the normal betting begins. In most games, the player with the best showing card(s) opens each round’s betting. 7 card stud poker rules state that each player is allowed one bet and 3 raises per betting round.

7 Card Stud—The Second Round

By now you basically know how to play seven card stud. In this round a card is dealt face up and the highest showing hand begins the betting. Those who know the rules to playing 7 card stud refer to this up card as 4th street.

7 Card Stud—The Third Round

The dealer delivers another up card, 5th street, and another round of betting ensues.

7 Card Stud—The Fourth Round

The dealer delivers another card, still face up. This card is called 6th street and ushers in another round of betting.

7 Card Stud—The Fifth Round

In this round the last card is dealt face down. This last card is called 7th street or the river. Next comes the last and final round of betting.

7 Card Stud—The Showdown

And finally the best hand, or the hand that was not called, wins the pot.