Seven Card Stud Rules
A Stud poker game is characterized by having one or more face up cards for
each player. Stud games typically have the following betting limits: $2-$4,
$8-$16, or $10-$20. The first amount is the low limit and the second amount
is the upper limit. We'll use a $10-$20 game as the example throughout
these rules.
The standard minimum buy-in for a stud game is 10 times the low limit of the
game ($100 for a $10-$20 game).
Ante for each game is usually 10% of the low limit of the game (Ante is $1
for a $10-$20 game).
Third Street
A game starts with the dealer dealing clockwise
starting on
their left. One card at a time is dealt to each player at the table,
with each
player being dealt two downcards (pocket cards) and one upcard (the
“doorcard”).
The three cards now on the table for each player is called “Third
Street”.
The first round of betting starts with the player with the lowest doorcard
(suit will settle any ties: spades (highest suit), over hearts, over diamonds,
over clubs (lowest suit)). The player with the lowest doorcard has the
option of staying in the game by opening with a bet equal to twice the ante
($2) or folding if they don't want to stay in the game. If this player
folds, the player to their left has the option of making an opening bet or folding.
This continues clockwise until a player makes an opening bet. After an
opening bet is made, the next player clockwise has three options: call by matching
the opening bet ($2), raise by betting the low betting limit ($10), or fold.
These options continue around the table for all remaining players. Throughout
Third Street, bets can not exceed the low betting limit ($10).
Fourth Street
Each player is dealt another upcard (open card).
The
opening bet in Fourth Street, and for the rest of the rounds of betting in
the
game, comes from the player with the high hand determined by the
upcards. The
opener has the option to pass (check) or bet. If the opener chooses to
bet,
they can bet the low limit ($10), which then fixes all raises in this round
of
betting to the same amount ($10). One betting exception in Fourth
Street is
that if they opener has an open pair, they can bet the upper limit ($20),
which
then fixes all betting in this round to the same amount ($20).
Fifth Street
Each player is dealt another upcard and the high hand
has
the option to fold, bet, or raise. All bets and raises are at the
upper limit
($20).
Sixth Street
Each player is dealt another upcard and the high hand
has
the option to fold, bet, or raise. All bets and raises are at the
upper limit
($20).
Seventh Street
The last card (the “River”) is dealt face down to each
remaining player and all bets and raises are at the high limit ($20).
Showdown
After all Seventh Street bets and raises have been
made,
the players now enter the Showdown. In the Showdown, the opener
(determined by
highest upcards) reveals his pocket cards. All other remaining players
have the
option to show their hands to compete with the opener's hand, or fold (muck
out). Every player has the right to request to see any folded
hands. |
