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7 Card Stud Rules and History
The game of 7 Card Stud has been enjoying popularity for quite some time now. It is played in land-based gaming venues and in online poker rooms. As is the case with other prominent poker variations, the game's history is highly disputed. Some say that the game first emerged during the American Civil War and was front-line troops' favorite poker game. Many people want to know how to play 7 Card Stud so we have put together the rules of 7 Card Stud, along with a brief history.
How to play 7 card stud
The easy to understand 7 Card Stud rules helped make it the most popular poker game from the 1850's through the 1970's when another poker variation, Texas Hold'em, took over the coveted role. Although today, Texas Hold'em is indeed the most played poker variation of all, the game has a large following as well. Let's look at how to play 7 Card Stud
The rules of 7 Card Stud, whether its an offline or online poker game, are not difficult to master. All you need to do is concentrate and be careful. 7 Card Stud rules allow up to eight players at the poker table. There are five rounds of betting in this game. Each active participant is dealt three unexposed cards and four exposed ones. The game requires all players to put in an ante before any cards are dealt. Normally, the ante is equal to 10% of the small bet.
Bring it in
After the antes have been made, 7 Card Stud rules dictate each player receives two unexposed cards and one exposed card into his pocket. The player with the weakest face up card is to open the betting round. He must place a bet of either 50% of the lower limit or 100%. This bet is called the bring-in. For instance, in a game of $2-$4 bets, the bring-in player must contribute either $1 or $2 to the pot.
It is important to remember that all bets and raises made during the first two rounds of betting are set according to the lower value of the game's limit, $2 using the example above. After the first betting round, which is opened by a player with the lowest exposed card, all subsequent rounds of betting are kicked off by the player with the strongest card/hand.
Heading to Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Street
After the first betting round is over, each player receives a fourth card (fourth street) which is placed face up. All bets and raises during the last three rounds of betting are set according to the higher value of the game's limit. For "fifth" and "sixth" street, there are betting rounds and each active player receives a face up card.
The River
After the third up card is dealt, there is one more round of betting and then a "river" card is dealt to each player, this time face down. There is a final betting round which brings the game to its end. Players must now reveal their hands and establish the winner. As with most poker games, 7 Card Stud rules state that the player with the strongest hand takes the pot. Although learning how to play 7 Card Stud is pretty easy, with so many exposed cards, winning definitely isn't!