7-Card Stud is essentially a Limit game. Initially, every player posts an Ante. This is a forced bet to get money in the pot before any further betting takes place.
The Deal
Each player is then dealt one card at a time, until every player has 3 cards. The first 2 cards are dealt face down and the 3rd card is dealt face up. This face up card is known as a Door Card.
First Round of Betting
Betting starts with the player holding the lowest-valued Door Card. This first bet is known as the “Bring in” or the “Opening Bet”. If two players hold the same-valued Door Card, then the Bring in is decided by suit, in alphabetical order (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades). Betting continues in a clockwise direction around the table.
Second round of betting: The “4th Street”
Every player still involved in the pot is dealt another card face up (an Up card). Betting at this round begins with the player holding the two strongest Up cards. The strongest hands are determined by regular Poker hand rankings, i.e. high card, pair, two pair etc. If a player holds a pair they can make a double bet (A bet that doubles the minimum bet). Betting then continues around the table as normal.
Third and fourth round of betting: The “5th Street” and the “6th Street”
Every player still involved in the pot is dealt another Up card. The player with the strongest Up card combination starts the betting at this round. From this point on, all bets are Big bets.
Fifth round of betting: The “River”
Each player still involved in the pot is dealt one final card face down. At this point, each player is holding 4 Up cards and 3 Down cards. Once more, betting may begin with the player holding the 4 strongest Up cards, and continues clockwise around the table.
Showdown
Once all the betting is complete, players may reveal their Down cards. The player who made the last bet reveals his/her hand first. However, if there is no betting on the last round, then the player with the highest value of Up cards reveals first. The player with the best 5-card hand wins.
In the case of two or more players holding similar winning hands, the regular split-pot rules may apply.
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