7 Card Stud Rules

The Ante Bet
Before a game of seven card stud begins, each player must place an ante bet. The size of the ante bet will be determined by the game organizers, but is typically 10-20% of the size of the small bet.

The Bring In Bet
Once the ante bets have been placed, each player will be dealt three cards – two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the lowest ranking face up card must place the bring-in bet. If two players hold equally low cards, cards are ranked according to suit with lowest to highest ranking clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. The bring-in bet will be more than the ante, but less than the small bet, although the full small bet can be placed.

Third Street
The first round of betting, known as third street, takes place. The player on the left of the bring-in bet plays first with betting continuing in a clockwise way around the table. Players can choose to fold, call or raise.

Fourth Street
The dealer deals a fourth card, face up, to each player. The first player to bet is the player with the highest ranking up card and play continues clockwise around the table. Each player has the chance to fold, call or raise.

Fifth Street
Each player is a dealt a fifth card, face up and this is known as fifth street. The player with the highest ranking up card plays first and play continues clockwise around the table. Each player can fold, call or raise.

Sixth Street
A sixth card is dealt, face up, to each player and the betting round once again begins with the player holding the highest ranking up card and proceeds clockwise around the table. Each player can fold, call or raise.

Seventh Street
Seventh street is the final round and is also often referred to as the river. Players are dealt their last card face down.

Winning at Seven Card Stud
Players will need to make their best five card poker hand, out of the seven cards they hold. Starting with the last player to act in the seventh street round, players show their final hands. If you are sure that your hand will not be a winner, you can choose to muck your hand so that your opponents will not see how you have played. The winner will be the player to hold the highest ranking five card poker hand.

Variations of Seven Card Stud
There are two variations of seven card stud – seven card stud hi and seven card stud hi/lo. In seven card stud, the player with the highest ranking hand wins the entire pot. In seven card stud hi/lo, the pot is split between the player to hold the highest ranking poker hand and the player to hold the best qualifying low hand. A low hand is five cards of eight or lower.

Seven Card Stud Hand Rankings
From highest to lowest, hand rankings in stud are as follows:

• Royal flush
• Straight flush
• Four of a kind
• Full house
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a kind
• Two pair
• Pair