Seven Card Stud Rules

Seven Card Stud is a standard at casinos and homes around the world. In this variation of poker (see Rules of Poker for basic poker rules), players are dealt some cards face down, for only them to see (known as “hole” cards), and some cards are dealt to them face up (“door” cards), so that every player can see them. This differs from Hold’em games in that there are no communal cards.

Seven card stud rules are a little more complex than a standard draw poker game. At the beginning of the game, each player must place an ante into the pot. Players then receive two cards face down (hole cards) and one card face up (door card). The player with the lowest door card opens the betting, with each player in turn calling, raising, or folding. On each round after the first, the player with the best door hand opens the betting.

After the first round of betting each player is dealt three moor door cards, with a round of betting following each card they are dealt. Each of these cards, in order, are known as “fourth street”, “fifth street” and “sixth street”.

After the sixth street betting round is complete, one final hole card is dealt to each remaining player, known as the “river”. A final betting round then takes place.

After the final round of betting, all remaining players show their hands for the final showdown. The best poker hand will, of course, win the pot (see Poker Hand Rankings). Tied hands split the pot.

Seven Card Stud High-Low Split Rules

Additionally, the key part of this game is that at the showdown, if a qualifying low hand (five cards of 8 or below with no pair) exists, it will win half of the pot and the best high hand will take the other half.

If there is no qualifying low hand, the best hand will take the entire pot. An eight-high straight or flush may be both the best low hand and the best hand in general, and in this case it wins the whole pot.