How a hand plays out
- Antes. Every player posts a small ante.
- Third street. Each player gets two cards face down and one face up. The lowest upcard posts the bring-in (ties broken by suit, with clubs lowest). Betting follows.
- Fourth street. A second upcard. The best visible hand acts first. Bets are at the small limit.
- Fifth and sixth street. More upcards. Bets double to the big limit.
- Seventh street (the river). A final card face down, then the last betting round.
- Showdown. Best five of your seven cards wins.
Reading the table
Stud's skill lies in the exposed cards. If you hold and two other nines are showing in other players' hands, your chances of making trips have collapsed. Good Stud players track every card that has been folded or exposed. A rolled-up hand, three of a kind on third street such as , is the dream; it arrives about once every 425 hands.
Starting hand principles
- Big pairs, especially when the pair card is hidden, are the best starting hands.
- Three suited or three connected cards are playable if those cards are "live", meaning few have been exposed.
- Pay attention to which upcard you would beat: a pair of tens is weak against a player showing a queen who has raised.
Stud Hi-Lo
In Stud 8 or Better, the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low of five unpaired cards eight or lower. It is one of the five games in H.O.R.S.E..
Frequently asked questions
How many betting rounds are in Seven Card Stud?
Five: third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh street.
Who acts first in Seven Card Stud?
On third street, the player with the lowest upcard pays the bring-in. From fourth street on, the player with the best visible hand acts first.
How many players can play Stud?
Up to eight. With eight players, 56 cards could be needed, so if the deck runs out the final card is dealt face up as a shared community card.