Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud Short Description

Seven Card Stud, a version of Poker for between 2-8 players, is today among the most popular variations of Poker. The game has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its classic Poker style and simple game rules.

A hand of Seven Card Stud consists of up to five Betting Rounds. Initially, each player places an 'Ante' (opening Bet) to 'seed' the Pot. Each player is then dealt two initial, private, facedown 'Hole Cards' and one, face up 'Door Card'. Players who remain active (do not Fold), throughout an entire hand of Seven Card Stud, will receive a total of three facedown cards and four face up cards.

After the fifth and final Betting Round is complete, there is a 'Showdown'. The player who creates the highest ranking (valued), five card, Poker hand, using any combination of five of their seven total cards, wins the Pot.

Seven Card Stud Step-by-Step

Step 1: The Ante

Before the first deal of the cards, each player 'Sitting-in' places an initial Ante (opening Bet) (see the Betting Limits, Antes and Rake section of this site for Ante schedule), in the centre of the table, to 'seed' the Pot.

Step 2: The Hole and Door Cards - The First Deal

The Dealer distributes two facedown 'Hole Cards' and one face up 'Door Card'. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the first player to the left of the Dealer.

Step 3: The First Betting Round
Betting Limit: 1/2 of the Table's Lower Limit Stake

The player with the lowest ranking (valued) Door Card showing, by suit, initiates the first Betting Round. This player is required to Bet no less than the 'Bring-in' amount (half of the table's Lower Limit Stake), up to the table's Lower Limit Stake. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn.

Step 4: 'Fourth Street' - The Second Deal

Each active player (has not Folded), is dealt one additional card, face up.

Step 5: The Second Betting Round
Betting Limit: *Lower Limit Stake

The active player with the highest ranking card(s) showing initiates the second Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn.
- The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Lower Limit Stake;
- In the event that a player is 'Showing' a Pair, with their two face up cards, at the beginning of the second Betting Round, players have the option to Bet in multiples of either that table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. If a player Bets at the table's Higher Limit Stake, all following players are required to continue Betting at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

Step 6: 'Fifth Street' - The Third Deal

Each active player is dealt one additional card, face up.

Step 7: The Third Betting Round
Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake

The active player with the highest ranking card(s) showing initiates the third Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

Step 8: 'Sixth Street' - The Fourth Deal

Each active player is dealt one additional card, face up.

Step 9: The Fourth Betting Round
Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake

The active player with the highest ranking card(s) showing initiates the fourth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

Step 10: 'The River' - The Fifth and Final Deal

Each active player is dealt one additional card, face down.
- Occasionally, there are not enough cards in the deck to give each player their own final seventh card, the River, face down. In this case, one card will be placed, face up, in the centre of the table. This 'Community Boardcard' is shared by all active players.

Step 11: The Fifth and Final Betting Round
Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake

The active player with the highest ranking card(s) showing initiates the fifth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

Step 12: The Showdown

Once the fifth Betting Round has been completed, there is a 'Showdown' (if more than one player remains active - see the Showdown below). In the Showdown, each active player combines any five of their seven total cards, to create the highest ranking, five card, Poker hand possible (see the Hand Ranking Chart section of this site).
The active player who creates the highest ranking Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the 'Rake' (see the Limits, Antes & Rake in the how to play section of this site).

Seven Card Stud Detailed Description

1. The Buy-in

Before joining a 888poker.com Seven Card Stud, players must purchase a minimum amount of Chips to play with ('Buy-in').

At 888poker.com, the minimum Buy-in amount is 10 times the Lower Limit Stake of that particular table (i.e. at a $1/$2 table the player must Buy-in with a minimum of $10) (see the Limits, Antes & Rake in the how to play section of this site).

2. The Ante

Before any cards can be dealt, each player wishing to 'Sit-in' (participate) on the hand must place an Ante (opening Bet) in the centre of the table (see the Limits, Antes & Rake in the how to play section of this site).

Once the Antes have been placed, the Sitting-in players are each dealt two facedown 'Hole Cards' and one face up 'Door Card'. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the first player to the left of the Dealer.

The first Betting Round is initiated by the player, Sitting-in, with the lowest ranking (valued) Door Card showing, by suit.

3. The Betting Rounds & Limits

There are five possible Betting Rounds in 888poker.com's Seven Card Stud. In each Betting Round, the amount that players Bet is determined by that specific table's Lower and Higher Limit Stakes (Betting amount). A table's Lower Limit Stake is always half of the Higher Limit Stake (i.e. a $1/$2 table, or a $5/$10 table).

In the first Betting Round, of a Seven Card Stud Poker hand, players Bet in multiples of no less than the 'Bring-in' amount (one half of that table's Lower Limit Stake), and no more than that table's Lower Limit Stake;
In the second Betting Round, of a Seven Card Stud game, players Bet in multiples of that Table's Lower Limit Stake:
- If a player is showing a Pair, with their initial 2 face up cards, players have the option to Bet in multiples of that table's Lower or Higher Limit Stake. Once a player Bets at that table's Higher Limit Stake, then all following players must also Bet at the Higher Limit Stake.
In the final three Betting Rounds, of a Seven Card Stud Poker game, players Bet in multiples of that table's Higher Limit Stake.

888poker.com's Seven Card Stud follows the conventional Poker Betting Round Structure. Betting Rounds always proceed in a clockwise fashion, from one active player to the next. Each player must either:

Check - Pass the option to act to the next active player;
Or
Bet - Place a Betting Round's initial increase to the amount that each of the following players must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the hand;
Or
Raise - Place a Betting Round's 2nd, 3rd or 4th increase to the amount that each of the following players must place in the Pot, in order to remain in the hand;
Or
Call - Equal the previous active player's Betting amount in that Betting Round and remain in the hand;
Or
Fold - Discard hand and no longer remain active to participate in the hand. The player forfeits the amount (if any) that they have previously wagered during that hand.

In keeping with conventional Poker rules, within each Betting Round there can be no more than one Bet and three additional Raises ('Raise', 'Reraise' & 'Cap'). Once a Cap occurs, the following players will only be able to Call or Fold.

A Betting Round is concluded when:

All active players have Checked in turn;
Or
All active players have Called the last player to Bet or Raise, in turn;
Or
All previous active players have chosen to Fold, leaving only one active player. This remaining player automatically wins the Pot; both the Betting Round and hand are automatically terminated.

After each of the subsequent four deals of the cards ('Fourth Street', 'Fifth Street', 'Sixth Street' and 'The River*'), there is a Betting Round, which is initiated by the active player (has not Folded) with the highest ranking hand.

*Occasionally, there are not enough cards in the deck to give each player their own final seventh card (the River), face down. In this case, one card will be placed, face up, in the centre of the table. This 'Community Boardcard' is shared by all active players.

4. The Showdown

Once the fifth Betting Round has been completed, if more than one player remains active in the hand, there is a 'Showdown'.

In the Showdown, each active player combines any five of their seven total cards, to create the highest ranking, five card, Poker hand possible.

888poker.com follows Standard Poker Rules for determining Poker hand rank (see the Hand Ranking Chart section of this site).

The active player who creates the highest ranking Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Pot won by any players holding higher ranking 'All-in' hands (see the Limits, Antes & Rake in the how to play section of this site).

The cards are shuffled before each hand.

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