Possibly the most well-known poker game in the world, seven card stud poker is a classic poker game which can take a lifetime to master. In Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card poker hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner.

Unlike Texas Holdem and Omaha poker, Seven card stud poker is only played with a limit betting structure. There is no pot limit or no limit type of betting for Seven card stud poker.

Rules for Seven Card Stud

Before a game of 7 card stud poker begins, all players ante a nominal amount. Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet (for example, either $1 or $2 in a $2/$4 game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in, ties in Seven Card Stud poker card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed stud cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards has the highest stud poker value.

Note: Starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, all bets are in big bet increments ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each poker player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card (hence, 7 card stud), which is dealt face-down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining stud player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first.

The player with the best five-card stud poker hand wins the pot. In the event of identical poker hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new online game of seven card stud poker is ready to be played.

7 Card Stud Hi Lo Variant

Another version of Seven Card Stud, called seven card stud hi lo (aka Seven Card Stud High-Low 8 or better). In this variant of stud, there are two potential winners per hand, one person for holding the best high hand and one person for holding the best low hand, provided the low cards are under the rank of 8 (hence "8 or better" often in the name). The best low hand A2345

Though many poker players are already familiar with Stud, there are still many new Texas Holdem players who have yet to discover the game. Good luck playing Seven Card Stud!