Up to 8 players are allowed to play at one table.
Betting structure
7 Card Stud is played with an ante. An ante is a forced bet paid by all players before the initial cards are dealt. The only betting structure available for 7 Card Stud is Limit.
The play
- The ante is paid by all players. The ante is usually 1/10 of the small bet, for example $1 in a $10-$20 game.
- Each player is dealt three cards. Two cards face down and one card faced up.
- The first round of betting starts with the player that has the lowest visible card. The player can choose to place a full or half bet. For the first round, a full bet is the lower amount of the structure, for example $5 in $5-$10 game.
- Once the first round of betting has completed, each player is dealt a fourth card face up.
- The second round of betting starts with the player that has the best visible hand. If two players have the same best hand, the suit will decide who starts the betting. The starting player has the option to check or bet the small bet; $5 in $5-$10 game. If a player has an open pair he has the option to place the higher bet in the structure; $10 in a $5-$10 game. The action then moves clockwise around the table, each player in turn having the option to check (if no bet was made by the player acting first), call, raise or fold.
- Once the second round of betting has completed, each player is dealt a fifth card face up.
- The third round of betting starts with the player that has the best visible hand. From the third round onwards the player wishing to bet must bet the higher bet; $10 in a $5-$10 game.
- Once the third round of betting has completed, each player is dealt a sixth card face up.
- The fourth round of betting starts with the player that has the best visible hand.
- Once the fourth round of betting has completed, each player is dealt their seventh and last card face down. If all 8 players are still in the game when the seventh card is dealt, the card is dealt face up in the center of the table as a community card. This is because the cards in the deck would run out if each player is dealt a seventh card.
- The fifth and last round of betting starts with the player that has the best visible hand.
- Showdown – The player with the best hand wins the pot. The hand is combined using five of the seven cards dealt to the player. If two or more players have the best hand they will split the pot.