Play Poker - Seven Card Stud

Learn how to play one of the most demanding games in Poker using skill, strategy and memory

Before the deal
Players will buy-in for the posted amount. No short buys are permitted
Players will place an ante into the pot by selecting 'I'm in'. Your ante will be placed into the pot by default. You may turn off this feature under the settings menu in the game

Opening deal

The dealer always deals first to the player closest to the dealer's left and, moving clockwise around the table, will 'deal-in' each player. The players will be dealt one card face down, then a second card face down, and then a third card known as the 'door card' will be dealt face up. A round of betting will occur starting with the player with the lowest card by value and suit. This is known as the 'force' or 'bring-in' bet. The player who has the bring-in bet may choose between betting a minimum amount or a larger amount.

The player with the lowest card value (ace being high) will be the force. In the event that two or more players hold door cards of the same rank, then the lowest suit will make the determination. Suits are ranked, from highest to lowest alphabetically (with 'a' being the lowest), spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs (ie the two of clubs is the lowest possible card). This is the only time suits will play a role in the game.

Fourth card (4th street)

The next card to be dealt into the game will be the fourth card. This is also called 'fourth street'. The dealer will burn one card off the top of the deck (discard it in case any of the players has seen it) and then always deals to the player closest to the dealer's left and, moving clockwise around the table, will deal each one card face up. A round of betting will occur starting with the player with the highest two-card value. This is known as 'having the action'.

The player having the best hand on the board 'has the action' and may make the initial bet of the round or check to the next player. If there is a tie between players as to the best hand, then the player closest to the dealer's left will have the action.

In fixed limit stud (ie a 4-8 game, as opposed to a 1-5 game), if any player displays an open pair on fourth street, that player may bet the higher amount of the game limit normally not available until fifth street.

If the player with the action chooses to make the lower limit bet, any other player still in the hand may choose to make either the lower limit or higher limit raise. Once any player has made the higher limit bet, all further bets and raises must be made at the higher level.