Prior to the emergence of Texas hold’em as the go-to poker variation in recent years, seven-card stud was one of the most widely played variations in America. Like any form of poker, playing seven-card stud requires knowledge of its rules and strategies in order to play it successfully.
At the start of each hand, each player places an ante that equals half the small bet (usually $5-$10 in a $5-$10 game), and receives two face-down cards and one that is face up.
Rules
Seven Card Stud is an extended version of poker with more cards than traditional varieties, increasing your chances of forming strong hands and providing for additional betting rounds.
One interesting element of Seven Card Stud’s rules is its unique ranking system for suits. However, this only applies when playing the high version of this game; otherwise it must be applied when two players open with identical low door cards – in such an instance suit rankings must be used to break ties among them.
Another tip for improving your chances is paying close attention to what cards your opponents are showing, this will allow you to figure out how many outs have already been lost and help calculate odds to improve them.
Variations
While Texas Hold’em remains the go-to game in online poker, Seven Card Stud provides an exciting variation. Played between two and eight players and with either limited or no betting limits available; also offered both as high-only and hi/lo formats.
Every player receives two cards face down – known as hole cards – and one face up, known as door card. Betting starts after this round – each subsequent betting round being known as a street. At the conclusion of all betting rounds, one final face-down card is dealt out to each player, leading the betting with the player who holds the strongest face-up hand leading.
At the start of each hand, each player must place an ante bet of between 10%-20% of their small bet (e.g. $2 in a $5/$10 limit game). This ante bet must be posted before betting begins in order to continue play.
Betting intervals
Seven Card Stud poker is an individual board format where each player may get up to seven cards on it, limiting the number of participants at a table to eight players; however, winning hands still require having the best five-card poker hand (meaning that any ties will be broken by selecting the kicker with the next highest value in each board).
Stud poker requires each hand to start with an ante. This usually comprises 10-20% of a small bet (for instance half the small bet in a $5-$10 game). Next comes two cards dealt face down and one dealt face up (called “door card”).
After the third betting round, known as “third street,” each player holds four cards in his hand.
Hand rankings
Seven Card Stud is generally played under Fixed Limit format, where players pay an ante to initiate each hand and are then dealt two hole cards and one face up door card from which their initial bet will come from. When there is no winner for any hand or tie exists, kickers determine who gets to start first.
To gain an edge in a stud game, it’s essential to count your opponents’ door cards – this allows you to assess their odds for later streets. Furthermore, remembering cards that have been mucked can prevent wasting hard-earned cash on losing draws; this is especially helpful early in tournament play.
Bluffing
Seven Card Stud has seen its popularity decline since the Hold’em boom, yet can still be found at live casinos and online poker rooms. Furthermore, it continues to play an integral part in HORSE and mixed game tournaments nationwide and requires keen observation skills from its players due to folded board cards which drastically change hand values.
At the start of each Seven Card Stud round, players must place an ante. This amount may differ, but is typically between 10-20% of their small bet (e.g. $0.50 in a $5/$10 limit game). Players then receive two hole cards and one face-up door card from which one may post an “open bring-in bet”, which may then be called or raised by other players.
