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How to Play 7 Card Stud Poker

7 Card Stud is a popular, well-known variation of poker that's played with up to eight players. Each player receives seven cards, three "down" cards and four "up" cards. Your "hand" is determined by using the best five of seven cards. There are five betting rounds in 7 Card Stud. One bet and three raises are allowed on each betting round. To continue in the game, players must call all action to them on each "street" or betting round, unless they are all-in. Rather than using blinds like in holdem poker games, seven card stud poker uses antes. This means that everyone "antes up" before the game starts with a predetermined bet amount. This amount is based on the size of the game.

Next, each player is dealt three cards, two face down and one face up. The "up" card is also known as the "door card" or "Third Street." The lowest "up" card must initiate the action with a "Bring-In" bet. If two or more players have the same lowest card, the person who brings it in is determined by suit order progressing from clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Following the first betting round, another card is dealt face-up to each player that still remains in the game. This is "Fourth Street," or the second round of betting. From this point on, the highest hand showing begins the action by checking or betting. If someone has a pair showing on fourth street, they have the option to make a single or double bet. If your opponent makes a single bet, you may call, raise a single bet, raise a double bet, or fold. If your opponent makes a double bet and you wish to raise, you may only raise an equal amount. After this betting round another card is dealt face-up to those who remain in the pot. This is called "Fifth Street," or the third round of betting, in which the bet amount doubles for the remainder of the game. The highest hand showing again starts the action by checking or betting. After fifth street, another card is dealt face-up. This is Sixth Street, or the fourth betting round. The final card is dealt down. The last card is also known as the "River Card" or "Seventh Street" and marks the final round of betting. The best hand wins the pot. Very seldom, a situation occurs where there are not enough cards left in the deck to give each player their own river card. In this event, the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

 

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