7 Card Stud

7 Card Stud has by tradition been the most popular form of Poker, and still is the most generally played Poker game in Las Vegas. Seven Card Stud poker game begins with each player being dealt two hole cards face down, and one card face up. The player with the lowest door card then starts a round of betting.

Then four more face up cards is dealt, each with a round of betting. A player's hand consists of his best five cards from seven.

The Buy-In

All players must buy-in a minimum amount of chips when sitting down at chosen table. The minimum limit is equal to ten times the lower bet limit of the game. For example on a £1 / £2 table the minimum buy-in is £10, on a £5 / £10 table the minimum buy-in is £50.

Sit Down

Up to 8 players are seated around a table.

Ante

Every player must post ante before any cards are dealt. The amount of the ante reflects the table limits. Lower the limit, the lower the ante. £1 / £2 tables have an ante of £0.25, and £10 / £20 tables have a £1 ante.

Betting

Players are dealt two down cards (Hole cards) and one up card. The player showing the lowest card by suit (highest to lowest: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) must bring-in the first round of betting with a forced bet of half the lower limit. The player who is to begin the betting will be prompted.

After the initial bet, three more up cards are delivered (with a round of betting after each card), then final down card and a final round of betting. There are betting limits at each table. The stakes being offered at the particular table determine the limit or maximum bet on any player's turn. For example, at a £1 / £2 table, the limit on any bet is £1 on the first two betting rounds and £2 on the final three betting rounds.

Normally a card room allows one bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and the only options you have are to Call or Fold at this point. The action of the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the table structure. The exception to this rule is when a player shows a pair after the 4th street the bet is the lower limit multiplied by two.

All players have the option to bet the higher limit for the second round of betting. If a player does bet the higher limit, subsequent bets must also be at the higher limit.

Showdown

Any five of the players’ seven cards can be used to make up the best Poker hand. The best Poker hand wins the pot. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left of the dealer.

If all eight players are still in the hand on the River, the total number of cards needed for all the players to receive their own card would not be available in a standard deck cards. In this case the River card will be dealt face up on the table and it will be used as a Community Card.

Start Again

After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the dealer button is moved one player to the left and the next hand begins.