Seven Card Stud
A classic poker game where players are dealt seven cards but only choose five of those cards for their final hand.
7 Card Stud is a poker game in which each player receives his own seven cards. Each player uses his own seven cards to form the best five-card poker hand. The cards are dealt to each player in five sequences known as “3rd Street”, “4th Street”, “5th Street”, “6th Street” and “7th Street, or the "River”.
3rd Street is dealt as the first sequence and consists of two down cards (other players cannot see these cards) and one upcard that all players see. 4th through 6th streets are dealt face up and consist of one card only. The 7th Street card is dealt face down.
Betting Structure
In order to start the betting action, 7 Card Stud uses what are called antes and bring-ins. Antes are posted by every player before he receives his cards and do not count as part of any future bets. The bring-in bet is used to stimulate action and initiate play. In 7 Card Stud, the lowest card by suit will be forced to start the action by placing the bring-in bet with an Ace counting as a high card for this purpose. The bring-in bet counts as part of the player’s bet if it should be raised.
On subsequent rounds, the high hand initiates action. If there is a tie, the player to the left of the dealer is first to act. The player with the forced bet has the option of opening for a full bet.
In 7 Card Stud there are five total rounds of betting. The first round of betting takes place after each player has been dealt his initial three-card hand (3rd Street). The second betting round takes place after 4th Street has been dealt. The third round of betting takes place after the 5th Street card has been dealt. The fourth round of betting will take place after 6th Street, and the fifth and final round of betting takes place after 7th Street, or the “river”.
After the final round of betting has been completed, a player may use any combination of five cards to determine his best hand.