Seven Card Stud games are played with a maximum of eight players per play, unlike Hold'em games where the max is 10. Also instead of four betting rounds, there are five, not including the ante. Each player, starting from seat 1 (the seat to the left of the dealer), is dealt two cards face down, then four cards face up, and the final ( river ) card is dealt face down.

Betting

Betting structure in Seven Cards Stud differ from Texas Hold'em and Omaha games.

Seven Card Stud betting sequence:
All players ante (except in certain low limits games that have no ante)

 

Each player is dealt two cards face-down ( pocket cards ) and one card face-up ( door card )

Card 1,2 and 3

 

First betting round (lower limit)

 

Each player is dealt one card face-up ( 4 th street )

Card 4

 

Second betting round (lower limit)

 

Each player is dealt another card face-up ( 5 th street )

Card 5

 

Third betting round (higher limit)

 

Each player is dealt another card face-up ( 6 th street )

Card 6

 

Fourth betting round (higher limit)

 

Each player is dealt a last card face-down ( river )
Card 7

 

Final betting round (higher limit)

 

Showdown

At the showdown, players use any 5 of their 7 cards to make their 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 board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

In Seven Cards Stud there are five possible betting rounds not counting the ante.

Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $2/$4 Fix Limit game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after two hole cards and door card are dealt).

Betting and raising during the last three rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In this example all bets and raises will be $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Seven Cards Stud poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3 rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding . There are other games where cap on number of raises does not apply and they are No Limit and Pot Limit games . One on One games have a cap after 6 betting rounds.

Dealer Button
At the table a graphic called the Dealer Button , a small round disk with the letter 'D' marked on it, is used to signify the theoretical dealer of the hand. The hand is deal clockwise one card at a time.

 

Betting Order

The Seven Cards Studcards are dealt in a specific order starting clockwise from the button and betting also takes place in a specific order as outlined below.

Betting Rounds
Each player must put their ante in front of them before he she receives his/her first three cards. Once all participating players have placed their ante the dealer then deals two cards face down (pocket cards) and one card face up (door card) to each player (one card at the time). The amount of the ante is based on the table limits. As an example, a game with a $1-$2 limit may have a $0.25 ante and a $3-$6 game may have a $0.50 ante

The player with the lowest exposed (door) card (using suits in reverse bridge order-clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades-if there is a tie) is required to initiate action by betting a minimum of half the lower limit. This starting bet is called the bring-in . When you have the bring-in, you always have the option of betting either half the lower limit or the lower limit for the table designated. For example, in a $2-$4 game, the player with the lowest door card must make a forced bet of either $1 or $2.

After the initial round of betting, which is initiated by the lowest card on the table and the "bring in" prompt, all subsequent rounds start with the player with the high hand on the board initiating the betting action. In cases of a tie, the player to the left of the dealer initiates the betting action. Examples:

After each player has two up-cards, one player has an ace showing, no other player has an ace and no player has a pair, the player with the ace has first action (initiates the betting).

After each player has two up-cards, two players have an ace-king pair and no other player has a pair. The player with the ace-king sitting closest to the left of the dealer initiates the betting. Suits have no bearing here.

After each player has two up-cards, two players each have king-king and no player has ace-ace, the player with the pair of kings sitting closest to the left of the dealer initiates the betting.

On the subsequent (second) round low limit applies with the following exception:

If any player has an open (exposed) pair after the first two up-cards have been dealt 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. For example, in a $2-$4 game, after each player has received the second up-card, one player has a pair of kings on board. Since this is the second round of betting, if no pair was showing, the betting would have to be at the $2 level. Since a pair is showing, however, the player with that pair can bet $2, or, if he wishes, $4. If he bets $2, any other player can raise either $2 or $4. If he bets $4, or if anyone raises $4, any subsequent raise must be $4.

Each bet and raise during the last three rounds of betting is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example, in an $2-$4 game, all bets and raises are $4 for the last three rounds ( fifth street , sixth street , and the river).

Note: In the event that there are not enough cards after the fourth betting round for the showdown, instead of dealing the river card to each player, the dealer will turn one board card and that will used as a community card.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold - Once a betting round has started you must select one of the options from the play buttons that appear when it is your turn. If you choose one of the advance options (advance buttons), your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select Sit Out or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If you click "Sit Out" button before the game started and you change your mind and than click "Deal Me In" button you will still be seated out for that hand. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an all-in bet. Please read our all-in policy for detailed explanation.

Showdown
When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show cards first, and anyone else can fold ( muck his cards if he/she determines he/she has lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.