7 Card Stud Poker is a moderately popular online poker game where 2 to 8 players receive a total of 7 cards in which they will use to make the best possible 5-card poker hand. 7-Card Stud can be found in most online poker rooms, unlike it’s short-version sister-game 5-Card Stud, due to a high rate of player traffic. Until the recent outbreak of Texas Hold’Em, 7-Card Stud was poignantly the most popular poker game played throughout casinos and home-based poker games.
The betting structure varies depending on the Limit/Stakes played, as does the typical style of betting between home games and online poker rooms. A poker room presents a low Ante bid plus a small Bring-In bid, where home games tend to apply only an Ante. For this tutorial and rules of 7-Card Stud, we’ll assume the play at an online poker room with $1/$2 stakes in Fixed Limit 7-Card Stud.
7-Card Stud – Terminology
Before we begin the basic rules of game play, let’s go over a terms you’ll need to know.
Ante: A small bid placed by each player before the cards are dealt. In $1/$2 Fixed Limit 7-Card Stud, the Ante is typically $.25
Bring In: The Bring In bid at an online poker room should be equal to half that of the Small Bid. Therefore, in a game of $1/$2 7-Card Stud, the Bring In bid is $.50
Small Bet: The lowest possible bet, aside from Ante and Bring In bets – in this case, $1.
Big Bet: The highest possible bet – in this case $2. The Big Bet amount will increase as the game goes on, doubling to $4.
Suit Ranks: In order to avoid ties, 7-Card Stud generally goes by a suit rank. The highest being Spades, followed by Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. For example, when determining the Bring In Bettor, if two players have a 2 showing, the lowest ranking suit places the bet.
7-Card Stud – Objective
To use the 7 cards dealt to create the highest 5-Card poker hand. Highest hand wins the entire pot.
7-Card Stud – Betting Structure / Game Play
The game of 7-Card Stud consists of 5 Betting Rounds, once for each time cards are dealt to the players. The initial deal, involving 3 cards to each player, is called the Starting Hand. Each card dealt thereafter is called a Street. Note that only 3 Raises may be placed per Betting Round.
Starting Hand: Before any cards are dealt, each player places an Ante of $.25 into the pot. 3 cards are dealt to each player, the first 2 face-down, the last face-up.
1st Betting Round: The player with the lowest ranking card will place the Bring In Bet of $.50. In the case of a tie, the Bring In bet is determined by rank of suit (see 7-Card Stud – Terminology – Suit Ranks). Starting with the player to the left of the Bring In bet, normal betting commences – minimum $1, maximum $2. (If the 7-Card Stud poker game does not use a Bring In Bet, the player with the highest ranking card must bet at least $1.)
1st Street: A fourth card is dealt to each player, face up.
2nd Betting Round: Betting commences in the normal manner – minimum $1, maximum $2 – however, this time the player with the highest 2-Card face-up hand bets first. For example, if the highest hands are A+J and 5+5, the 5+5 player would bet first.
2nd Street: A fifth card is dealt face-up to each player.
3rd Betting Round: Another round of bidding, in the same fashion as before – highest face-up hand bets first, but this time the stakes are doubled, forcing a $4 opening bet throughout the remainder of the hand. Players may still Check, but any bet or Raise made must be $4.
3rd Street: A sixth card is dealt face-up to each player.
4th Betting Round: Another round of betting, same as the last.
4th Street: A seventh and final card is dealt to each player, face-down.
5th Betting Round: The final round of betting commences, again with a forced bets/raises of $4.
The Showdown: Each player reveals their cards to determine the winner – the player with the highest ranking 5-Card poker hand. A tie is rarely possible since Suit Rank is used to avoid it, but in the case that a tie does occur, the pot will be split.
Important Note: If you’ve done the math, you’ve probably noticed that 8 players in a 7-Card Stud poker game could require more than a standard 52-card deck. Normally, at least one player will have folded before reaching the final stages of the game, however in rare cases where there are not enough cards remaining to complete the deal to all players, the final 7th card is played as a community card. This card will be played face-up in the center of the table, with all players assuming this to be their 7th card.
7-Card Stud – Poker Hand Ranks
- Royal Flush (Ace-High Straight Suited)
- Straight Flush
- 4 of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- 3 of a Kind
- 2 Pair
- Pair
- High Card
Where to Play Online 7-Card Stud
7-Card Stud can be found in just about every online poker room in existence. The only variable is the quality of game play and the player traffic to be found in 7-Card Stud poker. A minority of online poker rooms will provide 7-Card Stud poker tournaments as well, rather than just ring games. To enjoy an online poker room that provides high quality, decent traffic and scheduled tournament play of 7-Card Stud, try any of the online poker rooms listed below.
- Poker Stars
- Full Tilt Poker
- Hollywood Poker
- Gnuf Poker
- CD Poker
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