7 Card Stud Poker

Hand Rankings: Hand rankings are as follows, with the highest hands first:

Hand Ranking	Description	Example
Royal Flush	5 suited cards in sequence, topped with the ace. For example, a Royal Flush in Spades.
Straight Flush	5 suited cards in sequence. For example, an Eight-high Straight Flush in Diamonds.
Four of a kind	4 cards of the same rank. For example, four Queens.
Full house	3 cards of the same rank, plus 2 cards of the same rank. For example, a full house with 3 aces and 2 fives is a Full House, Aces full of Fives.
Flush	5 cards of the same suit, not all of which are in sequence. For example, a King-high Diamond Flush.
Straight	5 cards in sequence, not all of which are the same suit. For example, a Ten-high Straight.
Three of a kind	3 cards of the same rank. For example, three Queens.
Two pair	2 different occurrences of 2 cards of the same rank. For example, Two Pair -- Jacks and Nines.
One Pair	2 cards of the same rank. For example, a pair of Queens.
High Card	Cards all of which are different ranks and are not all the same suit. For example, Ace High.

The Play of the Game: The play of the game proceeds as follows:

1. All players ante
2. Each player is dealt two cards face-down (hole cards) and one card face-up (door card)
3. First betting round
4. Each player is dealt one card face-up (4th street)
5. Second betting round
6. Each player is dealt another card face-up (5th street)
7. Third betting round
8. Each player is dealt another card face-up (6th street)
9. Fourth betting round
10. Each player is dealt a last card face-down (river)
11. Final betting round
12. Showdown

At the showdown for 7 card stud, rules indicate that players use any 5 of their 7 cards to make the best possible poker hand.

(Very seldom, a situation occurs where there are not enough cards left in the deck to give each player their own river card. In this event, the dealer will turn one boardcard face-up and it will be used as a community card.)

Betting Structure and Rules

There are five betting rounds in a complete game of 7 Card Stud, not including the ante.

On the first round of betting, the low card by suit is required to initiate action with a bet (the bring-in) that will be between a fifth and a half (depending on the game) of the lower limit. Suits are ranked: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the dealer will inform the players as to who acts first.

Each bet and raise during the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $4 for the first two rounds. The exception to this rule is if any player displays a pair with their 2 face-up cards on 4th Street. In this circumstance, all players have the option to bet either the lower limit or the higher limit. If a player bets the higher limit, then all subsequent raises must be made at the higher limit.

Each bet and raise during the last three rounds of betting is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $8 for the last three rounds (5th street, 6th street and the river).

The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any particular betting round is four. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can not be raised anymore. Once the pot is capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.

Check-raising is (usually) allowed.

Button and Blinds

A flat disk is used at the poker table; this is called the dealer button to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand. After each hand has completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player. Since betting is initiated based on the cards on the table (and not position as is the case in Texas Hold'em) there is no advantage or disadvantage to being the dealer in 7 card stud.

There are no blinds in 7 card stud.

Strategy: 

• The best starting hands are, in order
  • Trips: Slow play this hand, as trips will often win the hand even without additional cards to improve the hand. By slow play, I mean try to keep as many players in the hand as possible by not raising at the lower betting limit, and waiting until the higher betting limits before raising.
  • High pairs (10s or better): Act aggressively; here, you want to knock out as many players as you can as soon as you can to minimize the risk that a weaker hand will improve as they are allowed to see additional cards.
  • Three to a flush: This is a drawing hand; stay in the pot at the lower betting limits if there are no or one raise, but be prepared to fold if your hand has not improved by the time the higher betting limits at the later streets are in play. Keep an eye out for cards in your suit that are dealt to other players, as this decreases the chances that you'll make your flush.
  • Three to a straight: Be careful here. Try to stay in cheaply to see that fourth card; if it helps your straight possibility, then continue to play, but fold otherwise unless all of your cards are high cards, or your fourth card gave you a high pair. Don't chase the straight!
• Only play at stakes that you are comfortable playing.
• Playing at the free sites like Yahoo Games and MSN Games will not help you learn to master this game; players at those sites are just pushing chips around, and stay to the end on every hand because they have nothing invested in the game.

Read, read, read! Then practice, practice, practice! Then, win, win win! :)

Online Play: There are many online sites where you can play this style of poker -- but you need to make sure that the site accepts players fom your area of residence.

• US players should use the links below to find a poker room
• All sites that accept players from your area
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer a free, no-deposit bonus to try the games risk-free
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer at least a 50% initial deposit bonus should you decide to make a deposit
• Players outside of the United States have additional choices, and should use the links below to find a poker room
• All sites that accept players from your area
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer a free, no-deposit bonus to try the games risk-free
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer at least a 50% initial deposit bonus should you decide to make a deposit

Best Bets: These sites have nice bonuses, great game selection, and excellent sit-and-go tournaments at all stakes.

  Americas Cardroom
100% bonus on initial deposits between $ 50 and $ 1000
Languages:    Currencies:

Good luck and have fun!