7 CARD STUD POKER RULES
Card Stud is the
game for professional poker players. Stud demands skill
and it takes a lot of play to develop the winner's edge. Top players are few but they have one
thing in common with the rookies: every player of the game is still learning, even the masters.
tud games are defined
by their betting limits. The low stakes online games
are usually $2-$4 while the higher games are typically $10-$20. The game's betting limits tell the
Stud player pretty much everything they
need to know about the nature of the game, the expectations of the players, and
the size of the bankroll you should have before you sit in.
The minimum Stud Buy-In is typically 10-times the low limit, or $20 for a $2-$4 game. But playing with the minimum is not recommended (see strategy). Anything below the $10-$20 level is generally considered a beginner's game. The skill and strategy levels required in the higher games are substantial and such games generally do not provide a friendly environment for a beginner.
The Ante
nte
in Stud is mandatory and changes depending on the betting limits. The
low games usually require a 10% Ante, so a $2-$4 game will have a $0.20 Ante.
The high limit games get up to 25% on the Ante: e.g. $25 on a $100-$200 game. The
percentages may vary and 10% is a minimum.
The dealer deals clockwise starting on their immediate left. They deal one card at a time around the table until each player has two pocket cards (face down) and a single up (the door card).
At this point the dealer indicates which player will open the betting, determined by the lowest door card. If there's a tie for low door, suit resolves it: spades over hearts, followed by diamonds, and finally clubs is the lowest.
Betting
nce
the initial cards have been dealt, the game begins. At this point we've got
three cards on the table per player and that's called Third Street.
The player holding the lowest door card must bring it in by opening with a bet equal to twice the ante ($2 in our example game). If the low door player doesn't make this bet, they're forced to Fold and the opener passes to the player on their left.
The next player clockwise from the opener can Call by matching the opener, Raise by betting the low betting limit ($10) or Fold. Throughout third street all Bets and Raises are fixed at the low betting limit ($10).
Fourth Street
he dealer gives each
player another open (up) card. Unlike third street, the
opener in the fourth and remaining streets is the high hand as determined by the
open cards. They may Check (Pass) or Bet. It they Bet it's at the low limit
($10) and that fixes all raises in this round to the same.
If the high hand is an open pair, the opener can Bet at the upper limit ($20) and this fixes all Raises in the round to the same.
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Street
gain, the card is dealt
up and high hand opens. All Bets and Raises are at
the upper limit ($20). The last card, called the river, is another pocket card (face down). All
bets and raises are at the high limit ($20).
Showdown
fter the Bets and
Raises have been resolved, the remaining players enter the
Showdown. The opener reveals his pocket cards. If a player wishes to compete
with this hand they too reveal their pocket cards, or they can yield and muck
out (Fold).
At the casino it's the dealer's responsibility to call the winner, as determined by the best 5-card hand under normal Poker rules. In online games, the software will designate the winner and the pot will be passed to them. It is any player's right to request to see any final hand that has been mucked, though this is primarily intended for casino play.
It's true with all the Poker games, but never truer than with 7-Card Stud: the rules are barely the beginning. It's the strategy and gaming skills that make the game.
Where to Play
Play Seven Card Stud at Titan Poker and
collect 100% match sign-up bonus up to $500 free.
