Seven Card Stud Rules

Basics | Hand Rankings | Texas Holdem | Omaha | 7 Card Stud

The Rules of 7 Card Stud

Seven-card stud is played with two downcards and one upcard dealt before the first betting round, followed by three more upcards (with a betting round after each card) and one more downcard. After the last downcard is dealt, there is a final round of betting. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In all fixed-limit games, the smaller bet is wagered on the first two betting rounds, and the larger bet is wagered after the betting rounds on the fifth, sixth, and seventh cards. If there is an open pair on the fourth card, any player has the option of making the smaller or larger bet. Deliberately changing the order of your upcards in a stud game is improper because it unfairly misleads the other players.

Let's Play Some Stud

1. Each player must place an ante into the pot. 2. Each player is dealt two cards face down (hole cards) and one card face up (door card)

Hole Cards		Door Card

3. First betting round.

4. Each player is dealt one card face up (fourth street)

Hole Cards	Door Card	4th street

5. Second betting round.

6. Each player is dealt another card face-up (fifth street)

Hole Cards	Door Card	4th street	5th street

7. Third betting round.

8. Each player is dealt another card face-up (sixth street)

Hole Cards	Door Card	4th street	5th street	6th street

9. Fourth betting round.

10. Each player is dealt a final card face down (river)

Hole Cards	Door Card	4th street	5th street	6th street	River

11. Last betting round.

12. Showdown (Every remaining player shows hand with first bettor or last raiser showing first). Players can use any five of their seven cards to make their best hand.