How To Play 7 Card Stud

Setup

• Played with 2 to 8 players.
• Uses a standard 52-card deck.
• No community cards like in Texas Hold'em.
• Betting is done in fixed-limit format (e.g., $2/$4 limits).

Gameplay

1. Ante:
   • Each player places an ante before the deal (a small forced bet).
2. Third Street (First Betting Round):
   • Each player is dealt three cards: two face down (hole cards) and one face up.
   • The player with the lowest face-up card must place the bring-in bet (a small forced bet).
   • Betting proceeds in a clockwise direction with a fixed-limit structure.
3. Fourth Street (Second Betting Round):
   • Each player is dealt one more face-up card (four total: two down, two up).
   • The player with the highest visible hand starts the betting round.
4. Fifth Street (Third Betting Round):
   • Each player receives another face-up card (five total: two down, three up).
   • Betting limits double starting in this round.
5. Sixth Street (Fourth Betting Round):
   • Another face-up card is dealt (six total: two down, four up).
   • Betting continues as before.
6. Seventh Street (Fifth and Final Betting Round):
   • Each player receives a final card face down (seven total: three down, four up).
   • Final betting round.
7. Showdown:
• Players use any five of their seven cards to form the best poker hand.
• The player with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot.

Hand Rankings (from best to worst)

• Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit)
• Straight Flush (Five consecutive cards of the same suit)
• Four of a Kind (Four cards of the same rank)
• Full House (Three of a kind + a pair)
• Flush (Five cards of the same suit)
• Straight (Five consecutive cards of mixed suits)
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair
• High Card

Key Strategy Tips

• Pay attention to the face-up cards your opponents have.
• Fold early if your hand looks weak.
• Remember the fixed-limit betting structure when planning your bets.
• Bluffing is harder since many cards are visible.