7 Card Stud Poker Rules - Cash-In the Fun

Over the years, 7 Card Stud Poker's popularity has given way to other forms of poker like Texas Holdem. However, the game of 7 Card Stud is still a popular choice on the East coast of America and in many European cities, mainly because of the many interesting variations of the basic Stud Poker game. Given here are the 7 Card Stud Poker rules that will help you learn the game.

Up to 8 players can play on a table. But, before you sit down on a chosen table, you must first buy-in a minimum amount of chips, usually 10 times the lower bet limit of the game.

Ante

According to 7 card stud rules each player playing 7 Card Stud poker must pay ante, based on the table limits, before any cards are dealt. For instance, for table limits of $5-$10, the ante is usually $0.50.

Card Distribution

After the ante, each player is dealt 2 cards face down and one card face up. According to the 7 card stud rules, the player with the lowest up-card after the first deal must make the 'bring-in' bet. This is a forced bet that is usually 2-3x the ante. The player forced to make the bring-in bet may also elect to make it a full-sized bet. So, in a $3-$6 game, the player can choose to make a bring-in bet of either $1.00 or $3.00. The first betting round (the 3rd street) ensues, where the other players have the option to call, raise or fold.

After the initial round of bet, three more cards are dealt face-up with a betting round after each card. And then, the final card is dealt face-down followed by the last betting round.

Betting Structure

There are five betting rounds in all and the game is almost entirely played using fixed limit betting rules. In the first two betting rounds, bets and raises are for X amount and the final three rounds are 2X.

4th Street

After the second face-up card is dealt, the player with the highest hand on the board has the option to start betting. He has the option to bet the full low bet or check. Additionally, if that player has a pair showing in his first two cards he has the option of making a full high bet.

In the subsequent betting rounds, 5th street, 6th street and 7th street, the new highest hands bet first. However, as per the 7 card stud rules, in these rounds the bets and the raises must be of the full high bet size.

Showdown

After betting ends on the 7th Street, the player having the highest ranking hand (best 5 cards from his seven) wins the pot.