Many people think of Hold’em when they think of poker. Texas Hold’em has been the game of choice for many players since the poker boom of the early 2000s, and Omaha is second in popularity in most poker rooms. But Stud and Draw games started it all many years ago.

Today, games like Stud are making a comeback, courtesy of players who never let it die and others who enjoy putting it into mixed game lineups. The version that appears most often is Seven-Card Stud.

For that reason, many players want to learn the game. Without getting into hi-lo or 8-or-better qualifications, it’s best that they start with the basic Seven-Card Stud poker rules.  

Seven-Card Stud Poker Rules and Basics

At its core, Stud is a form of poker that uses face-up and face-down cards in the dealing of a hand. In Seven-Card Stud, there are seven cards in total for each player, if the hand plays to completion. 

• Initial deal: two cards face-down & one card face-up (2 down, 1 up)
• Fourth street: one card face-up (2 down, 2 up)
• Fifth street: one card face-up (2 down, 3 up)
• Sixth street: one card face-up (2 down, 4 up)
• Seventh street: one card face-down (3 down, 4 up)

There are betting rounds between each street, and the dealer burns a card before dealing every round of new cards. 

How To Play Seven-Card Stud

At first glance, Seven-Card Stud rules can seem complicated. With so many rounds of betting, some cards up and others down, it can be a little intimidating. However, the rules make a lot of sense once play begins.

One of the unique rules is something called the bring-in. It is the opening bet that is determined by the face-up cards that started the action.

• The lowest-ranking face-up card pays the bring in, which is normally about half of the minimum bet.
• If two or more players show the same lowest-ranking card, the lowest suit is the club, followed by the diamond and heart, with the spade as the highest-ranked suit.
• Each subsequent round of betting starts with the player showing the best poker hand using face-up cards only. 

Seven-Card Stud can play with two to eight players, though a full table may create a problem. Since there are only 52 cards in the deck, a hand that plays out to seventh street with a number of players can create a need for more cards. If this happens, the dealer can use burn cards.

Get To Know Seven-Card Stud

One way to get the hang of Seven-Card Stud is to use a physical deck of cards and deal them out. Get the hang of the face-up and face-down cards, quickly identifying the bring-in, and how to calculate odds by making mental notes of the face-up cards around the table.

Another way to check out the game is to play online. Sometimes, BetMGM Poker players will create a demand for Seven-Card Stud online in the three states it operates legally: New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. You can join or watch the action.

Finally, explore this blog for introductory guides and tips for new players. You can also check out YouTube videos explaining the game or live streaming Stud games, and there are also poker forums online in which to ask questions. Most pro players, especially those with a penchant for mixed games, will entertain questions about the game in the hopes that more people will enjoy it as much as they do.

Register at BetMGM Poker to play Seven-Card Stud now.