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Royal flush
Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house
Flush
Straight
Three of a kind
Two pairs
Pair
High card
X
7 Card Stud
7 Card Stud Setup
Intro
Before joining a game of Seven Card Stud, players have to purchase a minimum amount of chips to play with. A minimum initial buy-in of chips is usually ten times the lower betting limit of a particular table, i.e. at a $1/$2 table, a player must buy a minimum of $10 worth of money chips.
Once all the players are gathered around a specific table with the relevant amount of chips, there are a few steps to be taken before the game commences.
Firstly, all players have to place a forced bet (ante) to start off the initial pot. Secondly, all players are dealt two face-down cards and one face-up card. Once the bring-in has been assessed, players then act one at a time clockwise around the table.
Lower Table Limit
The lower table limit is the minimum bet within a game. Table betting limits are fixed and vary from table to table, giving players an option to decide how much they are willing to wager.
Higher Table Limit
The higher table limit is a maximum bet within a game. The higher table limit is usually twice the amount of the lower table limit.
Dealer
The dealer is a table position which is is indicated with a ‘D’ marker. The dealer position in Seven Card Stud poker determines the order of dealing cards to players.
Ante
Before the first cards are dealt, each player has to place an ante. Antes are compulsory initial bets for every player wishing to participate in a game round. It is usually equal 10% of the small bet (lower stake).
7 Card Stud Third Street
Intro
The word ‘street’ is used in a game of Seven Card Stud Poker to describe betting rounds. It corresponds to the number of individual cards dealt to a player, i.e. two hole (face-down) cards and one door (face-up) card make three, hence third street.
The player with the worst door card is assigned as the bring-in (a forced bet that is akin to a blind in Hold'em). The 2 of clubs is the worst card in the deck when assessing the bring-in. This is the only instance in the game where the suits come into play. The bring-in amount is usually 30-50% of the lower stake This player has two options: post the bring-in amount or ‘complete’ the bet by upping it to the lower table limit. After the bring-in action, the betting moves clockwise around the table with each player acting in turn. Every player has the following options: call, raise or fold.
All raised bets should be equal to the lower table limit (small bet) in the first game round, with a maximum of four times the small bet.
Hole cards
When all the players placed an ante, the dealer hands out two face down cards to each player. The cards are dealt one at a time in a clockwise fashion, starting with the first player immediately to the left of the dealer. These cards are known as ‘hole cards’.
Door card
After the hole cards have been dealt, the dealer hands out one face-up card to each player. These cards are called ‘door cards’ and are visible to other players. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, starting with the first player immediately to the left of the dealer.
Bring-in
The person who received the lowest valued door card initiates the first betting round. They have to place a compulsory bet called the ‘bring-in’, which is usually 30-50% of the lower stake. This player has two options: post the bring-in amount or ‘complete’ the bet by upping it to the lower table limit.
If there is more than one player with the same lowest valued door card, suits are used to determine the bring-in. They are ranked from the lowest to highest: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. (The 2 of clubs is the worst card in the deck when assessing the bring-in.)
After the bring-in has been posted, the betting action moves clockwise around the table with each player acting in turn.
Betting Options
After the first player has posted the bring-in, the rest of the players have the following options: call, raise or fold. In the first betting round, players can bet in multiples of no less than the ‘bring-in’ amount and no more than table’s lower limit.
Call
To call is to match the bet made by the previous player. The first bet after the ‘bring-in’ has to match the ‘bring-in’ or raise it.
Raise
To raise is to increase the bet amount made by the previous player.
The first raise after the ‘bring-in’ has to complete the lower table limit, i.e. the player has to post the other half of the table lower table limit. All consequent raises should equal the lower table limit. As 7 Card Stud is a fixed-limit game, raises in each round are up to 4 times the take stake limit.
Fold
To fold is to not play the hand. If you decide to fold, you are no longer eligible to take part in any more betting until a new game round starts.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have wagered equal amounts in the pot.
7 Card Stud Fourth Street
Intro
When the first betting round has finished with all the current bets in the pot, each player still in the game is dealt one additional card (face-up). A second betting round begins.
Starting from this round on, the first player to act is always the player with the highest valued door cards. Their options are to check (place no bet) or post the lower table limit. If the player with the highest valued door cards shows a pair, they have the additional option of betting double the lower table limit.
The betting action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the following options: call, raise or fold. With no prior bet, players can also check.
All raised bets in the second round should be equal to the lower table limit (unless the player with the highest valued hand has a pair and raises it to the table’s higher limit).
Fourth Street
A face-up door card is dealt to each active player. Every active player now has four cards in total: two face-down hole cards and two face-up cards. Fourth Street is also where a second round of betting occurs.
First player to act
The first person to bet in the second betting round is the active player with the highest valued hand. Face-up cards are ranked in the same order as poker hands. On fourth street, the best hand is two aces showing (e.g. A♠-A♥), the worst hand is the lowest valued cards from the same suit (2♣- 3♣). Any pair is better than a non-pair. For example, 2♠-2♥ is better than A♠-K♥. The first player has the following options: check (not place a bet and move the action to the next active player in the game) or bet the lower table limit. If that player with the highest valued hand also has a pair, they also have the option to bet the higher table limit. After that, the betting actions moves clockwise around the table, with each player acting in turn.
Betting options
In the second betting round, players have the following options: check, call, raise or fold. The betting limit in this round is set at the lower table limit, unless the first player to act had a pair and raised it to the higher table limit. This new bet amount would become the minimum bet in the current game round.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have placed equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as on Third Street. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round ends.
7 Card Stud Fifth Street
Intro
After the second betting round has finished with all the current bets in the pot, each player still in the game is dealt one additional face-up card. A third betting round begins.
The first person to act is the player with the highest valued face-up cards. Their options are to check (bet nothing) or bet at the higher table limit. After that, the betting action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the following options: call, raise or fold. With no prior betting, players can also check.
Starting from the Fifth Street, all raised bets should be equal to the higher table limit.
Fifth Street
A face-up door card is dealt to each active player. Every active player now has five cards in total: two face-down and three face-up. Fifth Street also refers to the third round of betting.
First player to act
The first person to bet in the third betting round is the active player with the highest valued face-up cards.
This first player has the following options: check (not place a bet) or bet the higher table limit. After that, the betting action move clockwise around the table, with each player acting in turn.
Betting options
On Fifth Street, the betting options are the same as in the previous round: check, call, raise or fold. However, the bet amount in this round is set at the higher table limit.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have placed equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as on Fourth Street. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round finishes.
7 Card Stud Sixth Street
Intro
After the third betting round has finished with all the current bets in the pot, each player still in the game is dealt one additional face-up card. A fourth betting round begins.
The first person to act is the player with the highest valued face-up cards. Their options are to check (bet nothing) or bet at the higher table limit. After that, the betting action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the following options: call, raise or fold. With no prior betting, players can also check.
All raised bets should be equal to the higher table limit.
Sixth Street
On Sixth Street, the fourth face-up card is dealt to each active player. Every active player now has six cards in total: two face-down and four face-up. Sixth Street also refers to the fourth round of betting.
First player to act
The first person to bet in the third betting round is the active player with the highest valued face-up cards.
This first player has the following options: check (not place a bet) or bet the higher table limit. After that, the betting action move clockwise around the table, with each player acting in turn.
Betting options
On sixth street, the betting options are the same as in the previous round: check, call, raise or fold. The bet amount in this round is also set at the higher table limit.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have placed equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as on Fifth Street. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round finishes.
7 Card Stud The River
Intro
After the fourth betting round has finished with all the current bets in the pot, each player still in the game is dealt a final face-down hole card. The fifth and last betting round begins. It is called the river.
The first person to act is the player with the highest valued face-up cards. Their options are to check (bet nothing) or bet at the higher table limit. After that, the betting action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the following options: call, raise or fold. With no prior betting, players can also check.
All raised bets should be equal to the higher table limit.
The River
The last face down card is dealt to each player. Now all active players have seven cards: three face-down and four face-up.
In the rare instance that all 8 players make it to the river round, only four cards would remain in the deck. There wouldn't be enough cards for each player to receive a final face-down card. In those cases, one face-up community card is dealt on the poker table for all players to use to make their hand.
First player
The first person to bet in the third betting round is the active player with the highest valued face-up cards.
This first player has the following options: check (not place a bet) or bet the higher table limit. After that, the betting action move clockwise around the table, with each player acting in turn.
Betting options
On the river, the betting options are the same as in the previous round: check, call, raise or fold. The bet amount in this round is also set at the higher table limit.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have placed equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as on Sixth Street. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round ends.
7 Card Stud Showdown
Intro
After the fifth and final betting round ends with all the money in the pot, it is time for the players who are still in the game to reveal their cards. A showdown is possible only if more than one player remains in the hand.
The winner is the player with the best five-card combination also known as the hand. If only one player gets to this stage, they will win all the money in the pot.
The hand
To form the best five card combination in a game of Seven Card Stud, the players have to use any five of their seven total cards.
The order at showdown
The player with the best high hand showing gets to reveal their cards first, unless there was betting action in the river round. In that case, the player who bet or raised last would have to show first. The aim for the players is to form the best five-card combination by using any five of their Seven Card. Players go in order clockwise around the table, showing their cards.
The winner
The winner is the player with the best five-card combination, also known as the hand.
7 Card Stud Tips
Tip 1
There are no community cards in a game of Seven Card Stud, unless, all 8 players remain active until the river round. There wouldn't be enough cards in the deck for each player to receive a final face down card. Therefore, one face-up community card is dealt on the poker table for all player to use to make a hand.
Tip 2
The dealer position in a game of Seven Card Stud is not as important as in other poker games, because it does not determine the order of action. In Seven Card Stud, the first player to act starting from Fourth Street is the player with the highest-valued door cards.
7 Card Stud Play
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Royal flush
Royal flush is the absolute best possible card combination in poker. It contains five cards of the same suit, in sequence from 10 to Ace. It is an unbeatable hand and you can be sure you win the pot or at least some part of it.
Remember, that all suits are equal in poker games. It may be a situation when two or more players hold a royal flush but is highly unlikely. In this case the pot is split between those two players.
Royal flush is a kind of straight flush and is considered the most rare poker hand combination. There are only four possible royal flush hands, one for each suit. The chances of you being dealt a royal flush are very minimal, only 0.00015%. However, if you are lucky you can confidently place an all-in with a royal flush.
Straight flush
Straight flush is the highest of all poker hands. It consists of five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. If there are more than one straight flush at showdown, the one containing the highest top card wins the pot Bearing in mind that all suits in poker are equal, in an event of multiple players reviling a straight flush with the same cards value the pot is split between them. The ace (A) can be used as both the highest (A - K - Q - J - 10) and the lowest card (5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A). In the first example, the hand is a royal flush - the best possible five-card combination. The second example shows the lowest possible straight flush.
There are 40 possible straight flushes, including four royal flushes in poker. The chances of you being dealt a straight flush are pretty slim at just 0.00139%.
Four of a kind
Four-of-a-kind or also known as quads is the next highest ranking hand after the starting flush. It consists of any four cards with the same rank and any other card. If there are more than one player with a quads at showdown, the player with the highest four cards wins the pot.
In poker games with community cards, if two or more players share the same four-of-a-kind, the winner is decided by the bigger fifth card, also known as the ‘kicker’.
There are 624 possible four-of-a-kind hands. The best one contains four aces, the lowest is made up of 2 - 2 - 2 - 2. The chances of being dealt a quads are also very rare at 0.024%.
Full house
Full house is the next highest ranking hand after four-of-a-kind. It has three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of a different rank. If there are more that one full houses at the showdown, the player with highest rank of the three cards wins the pot. In poker games with community cards, it is possible that several players share three matching cards from the board. In this case, the player with the higher pair wins the pot.
There are 3.744 possible combinations of a full house. The highest possible is three aces and two kings (A - A - A - K - K) and the lowest is 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 3. The probability of being dealt a full house is 0.1441%.
Flush
Flush is rather strong poker hand. It consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. If there are more than one flushes at showdown, the player with the highest top card wins the pot. If both players have the same highest card in a hand, the second highest card is compared, and so on, until a difference is found. If there is no difference between the two hands, the players split the pot. Remember, the suits are equal in poker, so it makes no odds which suit you use to form a hand.
There are 5.108 possible combinations and chances of being dealt a flush are 0.1965%.
Straight
Straight is a poker hand that contains any five connected cards in sequence with at least two different suits. If there are two or more straight hands at showdown, the player with the highest top card wins the pot. If the highest card in all the straights is of the same rank, the pot is split among the players. All suits are equal in poker, they can not be used to determine a winner.
The ace in a straight may be used as both a high (A - K - Q - J - 10) and low (5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A) card. The first example, known as ‘Broadway’’, shows the highest ranking straight. In contract to the second example called the ‘wheel’ in poker terms, which is the lowest possible straight.
There are 10.240 possible straight combinations, making it a 0.39% chance of being dealt one.
Three of a kind
Three-of-a-kind is the next ranking hand after staring. It consists of any three cards of the same rank and any two other cards. If there are two or more players with a three-of-a-kind at showdown, the highest fourth card, also known as the ‘kicker’, decided who the winner is. If the fourth card did not determine the winner, the fifth card is considered. In a situation where all revealed three-of-a-kind hands are equal, the pot is split divided among the winning players.
In Texas Hold’em and other flop games, three-of-a-kind is called a ‘set’. It is when a player has a pair on his private (hole) cards and one card of a matching rank on the board, for example, 5 - 5 on your hole cards and 5 on the board. Another possible type of three-of-a-kind is ‘trips’. it is made up of a matching pair on the board and one hole card, for example, 5 - 5 - 4 on the board and 5 on your hole cards.
There are 54.912 possible three-of-a-kind hands. The likelihood of being dealt such a combination is 2.1128%.
Two pairs
Two pair speaks for itself. It is basically a poker hand made up of two pairs of a different rank and any other card. If there are several players with a two pair, they are compared by the highest pair in each hand. The best two pair wins the pot. If the highest pairs are equal, the second pair determine the winner. If none of the pairs can be used to determine the winner, the player with the highest fifth card, also called the ‘kicker’, gets all the money from the pot. It is also possible that two players have absolutely equal two pairs, in that case the pot is split between them.
There are 123.552 possible two pair hands, making it one of the most winning hands. This is 4.7539% chances of being dealt one.
Pair
One pair is a poker hand rank that consists of two cards of the same rank and any three other cards. If there are two or more players with one pair, a player with the highest card value pair wins the pot. If a few players have the same pair, other three cards, or the ‘kickers’, are used to determine the winner. The player with the highest non-pair card wins all the money in the pot. In a situation when several players have the pair and three cards of the same value, the pot is split among them.
There are 1.098.240 possible one pair hands. That makes the chances of being dealt one very high at 42.2569%.
High card
No pair is the lowest possible hand that contains any cards. If a few players play no pair at showdown, the highest top card determines the winner. If all top cards are equal in value, the next highest ranking card from each hand is compared, and so on until a difference is found. If players have absolutely the same no pairs, the pot is split among them. It is not the end of the world if you get a no pair, as here is still a chance to win money form the pot if all the other players fold or have the same ranking hand at showdown.
There are 2.598.960 possible five card combinations. The chances of being dealt a no pair 50.1177%.
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