• Objective
• Method of Play
• Game Strategy

The objective is to make the best possible five-card poker hand using seven cards. The hands are ranked according to standard poker hand rankings.

The Deal

After all players have put their ante in, the dealing begins. Each player is initially dealt two cards face down and one card face up (called the door card). At this point, each player has three cards on the table, known as "Third Street".

Betting

The first player to bet is determined by the lowest door card. If there is a tie then suit is used: spades beats hearts, then diamonds and finally clubs.

The opening bet must be at least twice the ante, and if the first player does not wish to open, then they must fold and the chance to open moves to the player on their left. The next player can either call the opener, raise by betting the low betting limit, or fold.

After the initial round of betting, a fourth card (Fourth Street) is dealt face up to remaining players and a round of betting ensues. The opener is determined by the player with the highest up card hand. Betting continues after another up-card is dealt (Fifth Street). This is followed by the next round of betting when the up-card (Sixth Street) is dealt. For Seventh Street, the final card (the river card) is dealt face down to players, followed by another betting round.

The Showdown

After the Bets and Raises have been resolved, the remaining players enter the Showdown. The opener reveals his pocket cards (the face down cards). If a player wishes to compete with this hand they may reveal their pocket cards, or alternatively, they may decide to fold (muck out). The winner is the player with the highest-ranking poker hand. Any player can request to see any final hand that has folded.

There are a few basic strategies to follow when playing 7 card stud, based on the opening hands.

Opening Cards: High Three of a Kind (from 10 to Ace)
Action: Bet, raise and re-raise to get as many other players out as possible.

Opening Cards: Low Three of a Kind (from 2 to 9)
Action: Check and See to keep other players in the game and increase the pot odds.

Opening Cards: High Pair (from 10 to Ace)
Action: If you have the best pair, then bet, raise and re-raise to get as many other players out as possible. Narrow the field and play aggressively until your hand is threatened by a higher one.

Opening Cards: Low Pair with a High Odd Card
Action: Play this hand slow. If you don't make Three of a Kind or Two Pair on the next card then consider folding. Avoid playing this hand unless it's higher than anything on the board.

Opening Cards: Hidden Low Pair with a Low Odd Card
Action: Play this hand slow. Check or Fold if you don't make Three of a Kind or Two Pair on the next card. Avoid playing this hand unless it's higher than anything on the board.

Opening Cards: High Three Card Flush (from 10 to Ace)
Action: Fold if 3 or more of the suit show up elsewhere on the board. Play slow, and Check or Fold if you don't make a four-card flush or a high pair on the next card.

Opening Cards: 3 Cards of a Straight Flush
Action: Fold if four or more of your key straight flush cards are on the board. Play slow, and Check or Fold if you don't make any four cards to a straight or a four-card flush.