Seven-Card Stud Poker

Seven-Card Stud is one of the most played variants of stud poker games. In stud poker, players receive some cards face down, and some face up, visible for view to all the other players. There are no community cards that are shared by all, as in texas holdem poker, but each player has to make the best possible 5-card hand, using only his/her own seven cards. The fact that players’ hands are not wholly hidden, adds an exciting and fun element to this popular poker variant.  

Poker rules and procedures for a game of seven-card stud  
Note: For a definition of any of the poker terms used in this section, please feel free to view our tutorial.  

1. As with other poker games, a dealer is selected and a “button” is used to mark the dealer. With each round, the button moves clockwise, to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to deal. 
2. Starting with the player on the left hand-side of the button, the dealer deals the cards one by one, until every player has received two cards that are placed face down, and one card that is dealt face up. In poker terms, the cards that are dealt face down, are called “hole cards,” and the cards that are dealt face up, are called “upcards.” 
3. The player who has received the lowest upcard, has to make the bring-in bet. (This is the forced bet mimimum bet that has to be placed to open the first round of betting). The betting then continues, starting with the first player on the left of this player, and moving clockwise from there. All players have the choice of what action they are going to take: fold, or hold and call/raise to remain in the game. After every player has had a turn, the next round begins. 
4. A fourth card is dealt face up. This time the round of betting begins with the player that has the best upcard. From there, as per the previous round, the betting continues clockwise from this player, until all players have had a turn and took the necessary action. 
5. Another round follows with a fifth card that is dealt up. Here the same procedure as per the fourth card, applies. The round is over, once all players that chose to remain in the game- had a turn to take action. 
6. A sixth card is dealt up and all processes are followed again, as when the fifth card has been dealt. 
7. The dealing of the seventh card, marks the beginning of the last round of the poker game. The same procedure is followed as per the dealing of the sixth card. But after that, all players have to show all their cards and make the best possible 5-card hand, out of all seven their hole cards and upcards. 
8. The winner, who takes the pot, is the person with the best poker hand, according to the poker rankings. The game is then over, and the button moves clockwise, for the next person to deal the new game.

• Seven-card stud has five rounds of betting, as opposed to only four in texas holdem
• In texas holdem, bets are called “blinds.” In seven card stud poker, the bets are referred to as “antes”
• Other than in texas holdem, there are no community cards in stud poker
• In texas holdem, there is a fixed order in which betting takes place. In seven-card stud, the players’ hands determine the order in which betting takes place