7 Card Stud

 

In Seven Card Stud, each player is dealt seven cards—three face down and four face up—and must make the best five-card poker hand. There are no community cards, and betting occurs over five rounds.
Here’s a complete breakdown of how the game works:

 

Game Setup
• Players: 2–8
• Deck: Standard 52-card deck
• Antes: Each player posts a small ante before cards are dealt
(Men’s Club Rule Is: “The Dealer will bring in the ante”
• Bring-In: The player with the highest face-up card can bet to start the action

Card Deal Sequence
1. Third Street
• Each player gets two face-down cards (hole cards) and one face-up card (door card)
• The player with the lowest door card posts the bring-in bet
2. Fourth Street
• Each player receives a second face-up card
• Betting starts with the player showing the highest hand
3. Fifth Street
• Each player gets a third face-up card
• Betting continues with the highest visible hand
4. Sixth Street
• Each player receives a fourth face-up card
• Another round of betting begins
5. Seventh Street (River)
• Each player receives a final face-down card
• Final betting round starts with the best visible hand

Betting Structure
• Typically played as Fixed Limit
• Small bets on Third and Fourth Streets
• Big bets on Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets
• Raises are capped (usually four bets per round)

Winning the Pot
• Players use any five of their seven cards to make the best poker hand
• If multiple players remain after the final betting round, there’s a showdown
• Standard hand rankings apply (Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, etc.)

Strategy Tips
• Pay attention to exposed cards—they give clues about opponents’ hands
• Fold early if your starting hand is weak
• Track which cards have been folded to improve your odds calculations