SEVEN CARD STUD POKER RULES

Seven Card Stud Poker is possibly the most well-known poker game next to Texas Holdem Poker. It is often the standard poker game played in home games throughout the world as well as a favorite in many poker rooms.

If you run across any concept or rules that seems unfamiliar to you, please visit our Basic Poker Rules page.

Before the Hand | The Hand | The Play | Order of Play | The Showdown

Before the Hand

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Each player must ante.

The Hand

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Each player starts with a 3-card hand. If you play until the end the hand, you will finish with 7 cards in your hand, four face-up and three face-down.

There are no community cards unless the dealer runs short of cards at the end. In this case, instead of giving each player his/her own card at the end, a community card will be dealt.

The Play

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1. Each player is dealt three cards, two face down ("hole cards") and one face-up ("up card").
2. The lowest card starts the betting with a "bring in". The first betting round proceeds with the lower betting limit. Click here for more on forced bet and low card rankings.
3. The dealer gives each remaining player a 2nd up card
4. The second betting round proceeds with the lower betting limit. However, if any player's two up cards make a pair, then any bettor may make a bet equal to the higher betting limit. From this point on the higher limit is in effect for the entire hand.
5. The dealer gives each remaining player a 3rd up card
6. The 3rd betting round proceeds with the higher betting limit
7. The dealer gives each remaining player a 4th up card
8. The 4th betting round proceeds with the higher betting limit
9. The dealer gives each remaining player a 3rd hole card
10. The 5th and final betting round proceeds with the higher betting limit
11. Showdown

Order of Play

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Action begins with the "bring in" and proceeds clockwise. Subsequent round start with the highest exposed hand and continue clockwise.

The Showdown

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At Showdown, the high hand wins. Each player may use any five cards from his/her hand.

7 Card Stud poker rules Online are the same rules that you will find in brick and mortar cardrooms. Click here for more information on how to play poker and for poker hand rankings.